Chapter 540: Source Runes

The Five Elements imp felt a great shock.

This young arrayist… figured it out?

He realized I was spying on the Wuxing Sect's ancient inheritance?

The Five Elements imp's expression darkened sharply.

Kill him!

At all costs, kill him!

This cannot be allowed to leak out—Wuxing Sect must not find out, or my fortune will be lost!

All notions of comprehending the Five Elements Dao, ascending to the position of Demon Lord, reaching the rank of Evil God—mere delusions!

The Five Elements imp unleashed all its strength, activating the Five Elements Spirit Array.

Its body shimmered with five-colored light, brilliant and dazzling, entirely composed of vast Five Elements energy, radiating an astonishing aura.

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened slightly.

Is this the effect of the "Five Elements Array Flow"?

Mastery of the Five Elements Dao amplifies Five Elements energy, uses the Array Flow to control the Five Elements, and enhances oneself…

Empowered by the Five Elements Spirit Array, the Five Elements imp transformed into a fearsome ghost, taking on a spectral form, and lunged at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua remained calm, activated the Flowing Water Step, retreating backward while using Water Prison Technique to restrain it, and launched Fireball Spells against the Five Elements specter.

But his spells, upon striking the Five Elements specter, suddenly had minimal effect.

Water Prison Technique could not hold it for long.

The power of Fireball Spells had also plummeted abruptly.

One fireball after another slammed into the specter, blocked by the array runes manifesting on its body—only staggering it, hindering its assault, but inflicting little real damage.

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

The Five Elements specter's expression lit up with triumph; it understood clearly, accelerating its attacks while roaring wildly:

"Array techniques are profound, embodying the most fundamental understanding of the Dao of Heaven."

"Array techniques manifested by spiritual insight are even stronger."

"You're young, and to manifest spells already shows talent—but before manifested array techniques, you're still just dabbling in minor arts…"

"Today, you will surely die!"

The Five Elements specter's expression turned grotesque.

Mo Hua's gaze remained calm; suddenly his fingers tapped rapidly—"whoosh, whoosh, whoosh"—a barrage of Fireball Spells suppressed the Five Elements specter, then he withdrew, creating distance, and closed his eyes, focusing his mind.

The Five Elements specter blocked the fireballs with its arm, manifested array runes to absorb the explosion's residual force, yet still staggered slightly.

When it looked up, it saw Mo Hua with his eyes shut, doing something unknown.

The Five Elements specter snorted coldly, "Faking it!"

Then it surged forward at full speed, lunging to kill Mo Hua.

The dark wind howled fiercely!

As the Five Elements specter was about to reach Mo Hua, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze cold, voice crisp:

"Bind!"

The specter's forward momentum was suddenly yanked to a halt by an unseen force.

It looked down—and its pupils shrank in shock.

The ground… had an array!

A golden array had locked it in place!

At the same moment the Five Elements specter was bound, golden and red array runes on the ground flowed like water, winding and shifting rapidly, forming new runes and assembling four arrays.

One of them was the Golden Lock Array: golden runes coalesced into chains, tightly binding the specter.

The other three were Earth Fire Arrays: arrays blazing like infernos, brimming with lethal force.

This was a compound array known as Jin Suosanlian Earth Fire!

The Five Elements specter gasped in horror.

Damn it!

I got tricked by this brat again!

He can manifest arrays too?!

Is this kid really only a teenager? How could he possibly have such deep understanding of array arts?

In the spiritual sea, manifesting arrays solely through spiritual insight!

Isn't that the technique only used by ancient masters and patriarchs of array sects?

How on earth did he learn it?

No time for further thought—the Jin Suosanlian Earth Fire compound array had already formed.

Arrays, aligned with the Dao of Heaven, wield the strongest destructive power against spiritual insight.

The Five Elements specter cried in terror, "No—"

But Mo Hua declared decisively: "Detonate!"

The Jin Suosanlian Earth Fire compound array exploded instantly!

The Golden Lock Array trapped the enemy; the Earth Fire Arrays slew it.

The three Earth Fire Arrays bloomed like three lotuses, growing side by side, igniting Xiong Xiongliehuo that completely engulfed the Five Elements specter.

The Five Elements specter writhed in agony within the flames.

After a surge of furious fire, the flames gradually faded.

Yet Mo Hua's expression was far from relieved.

Sure enough, after a moment, the fire and smoke dispersed, revealing a "ghost" shadow—the very Wuxing Ghost.

Its form was ragged, but its injuries were not severe, and its silhouette had not dimmed much; clearly, its spiritual awareness had not been greatly depleted.

The Wuxing Ghost, having just recovered from its shock, was overjoyed.

It had almost forgotten—it was not an ordinary little ghost.

It had comprehended the fundamental origins of the Wuxing Sect's Five Elements array, granting it extreme resistance to the Five Elements; ordinary Five Elements arrays would lose much of their lethal power against it.

This Golden Fire Rebirth Array, though powerful, consisted of one Gold and three Fire elements—it did not exceed the Five Elements' scope, so it could not erase it entirely.

It could not even inflict serious injury upon it!

The Wuxing Ghost burst into loud laughter, then turned to Mo Hua, eyes gleaming with malice: "Little ghost, have you used up all your tricks? I wonder how you'll manage next."

Mo Hua's expression grew slightly tense.

The Wuxing Ghost sneered, lunging forward to continue hunting Mo Hua.

Mo Hua sighed, forced to keep using the Flowing Water Step, slipping perilously close to the ghost's claws and fangs, constantly fleeing.

The two chased and evaded each other, locked in stalemate.

The Wuxing Ghost did not grow angry; instead, it wore a mocking, cat-toying-with-a-mouse expression:

"Run all you want."

"One misstep, and you'll fall into my hands!"

"I want you to kneel before me and beg for mercy!"

The Wuxing Ghost laughed wildly.

Mo Hua's expression remained calm; as he gazed at the Wuxing Ghost, a hint of amusement suddenly flickered in his eyes.

After dozens more rounds, Mo Hua seized an opening and repeated his old trick.

He still began with a Fireball Spell, suppressing the ghost and slowing its movement to gain a moment's respite, then closed his eyes, focusing his spirit to manifest an array.

"Again?"

The Wuxing Ghost sneered.

But this time, it remained unfazed, striding forward boldly.

Soon, the Golden Lock Array formed beneath its feet, array patterns spreading into chains that bound the ghost tight.

This was within its expectations.

Yet the array that manifested next was not the Earth Fire Array.

It was the Golden Lock Array again.

A second Golden Lock Array added another layer of restraint.

Then came the third, the fourth…

Five layers of Golden Lock Arrays bound the Wuxing Ghost tightly.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua still focused intently, striving to manifest something else…

The Wuxing Ghost froze.

What did this mean?

Only binding, not killing?

Was this little ghost mad?

Or was he trying to trap it so he could escape and fetch reinforcements?

The Wuxing Ghost sneered, snorted contemptuously, and then its five-colored spiritual array blazed with blinding light.

The Five Elements' power intensified further.

The ghost's body grew larger, its strength mounting steadily.

It surged violently, snapping several chains and shattering multiple array patterns, then roared fiercely, pushing harder.

The five layers of Golden Locks broke one by one.

The dense golden array patterns dimmed one by one.

Finally, as the Wuxing Ghost let out a deafening howl to the heavens, it broke completely free from the fivefold Golden Lock bindings.

"Little ghost, kneel and beg for mercy now, and I'll let you die quickly!"

The Wuxing Ghost grinned savagely, its crimson tongue lolling, its fangs grim and sharp.

But Mo Hua's calm little face broke into a bright smile, pointing at the Wuxing Ghost, his voice crisp and clear:

"Kneel!"

The Wuxing Ghost froze, then laughed—not in anger, but in disbelief: "Little ghost, are you insane? You—"

Before it could finish, its smile vanished.

It had discovered a terrifying truth:

Its body was moving uncontrollably, slowly, inch by inch, kneeling before this little ghost?!

I can't control myself?!

I'm kneeling?!

The ghost's face twisted in terror: "What's happening?!"

It looked down sharply at its chest—and saw, for the first time, a blue array suddenly formed over its heart meridian.

This array was profound and intricate, not belonging to the Five Elements—it had never seen anything like it.

Worse still, this array bore twelve array patterns!

First-rank, twelve-pattern!

The Wuxing Ghost cried out: "Absolute Array?!"

It stared at Mo Hua, face filled with disbelief: "You know another Absolute Array?!"

And it's a Non-Elemental Ultimate Array!

It has grasped some of the Five Elements' primordial essence, so it can resist elemental arrays—but not Non-Elemental arrays, let alone an Ultimate Array!

The Spirit Pivot Ultimate Array of the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect!

Mo Hua smiled calmly.

Just now, he first used the Fivefold Golden Lock Array to lock the Five-Element Ghosts, then while it was wholly focused on breaking free, he secretly painted the Spirit Pivot Array on its chest!

And now, the Spirit Pivot Array's spiritual threads are slowly spreading, eroding, gradually taking control of the ghost's body—until it is fully dominated!

"No!"

The Five-Element Ghost cried out.

Though it did not know the exact function of the Spirit Pivot Array, it could vaguely sense that it was slowly becoming "uncontrollable."

This was a control array.

Once fully dominated, it would become this brat's plaything!

A fish on the chopping block, at his mercy!

The Five-Element Ghost struggled fiercely, exerting all its strength to resist.

It absolutely would not kneel!

It would not submit!

But this was not up to it.

Even a Half-Dao-Nie Corpse King had knelt—what about a mere ghost like it?

The Five-Element Ghost clenched its teeth, its face twisted in fury; despite its fierce resistance, it was still pulled by pale blue spiritual threads, its whole body trembling, slowly, inch by inch, kneeling toward Mo Hua.

Finally, it knelt completely before Mo Hua!

The Five-Element Ghost's face turned ashen.

Mo Hua smiled faintly and pointed a finger.

The Spirit Pivot Array on the ghost's chest instantly burst forth with countless spiritual threads, weaving through its limbs and bones, stitching it into a puppet—completely dominated!

The Five-Element Ghost gasped in horror, "

"W-what are you going to do?"

Mo Hua grinned slyly and ordered again:

"Now, kill yourself!"

The Five-Element Ghost widened its eyes, staring at Mo Hua in terror.

It suddenly realized.

It was not the ghost—the adorable little brat before it was the true demon!

Full of malice!

So despicable, vile, and cruel!

The Five-Element Ghost wanted to refuse Mo Hua's order—but it was useless; it could no longer control itself.

Under the control of the spiritual threads, the Five-Element Ghost helplessly raised its claws, stabbing itself—again and again, relentlessly mutilating itself…

Mo Hua smiled warmly and sighed, "The Spirit Pivot Array is so useful…"

Then he lay on the ground, legs crossed, resting and conserving his energy, watching from afar as the Five-Element Ghost killed itself…

After a long while, when the Five-Element Ghost was covered in wounds, its form grotesque and broken, its spiritual awareness dim, Mo Hua finally ordered it to stop.

The Five-Element Ghost stopped, its breath shallow, yet still glaring at Mo Hua, "You little brat…"

The Five Elemental Ghosts ceased their attack, their breaths faint, yet still glaring at Mo Hua, "Brat…"

The Five-Element Ghost fell to its knees with a thud.

"Slap yourself!"

Mo Hua ordered.

The Five-Element Ghost, with a palm like a fan, slapped its own face.

It slapped itself over twenty times.

Mo Hua said, "Stop."

The Five-Element Ghost stopped.

Mo Hua looked at it and said coolly, "Behave now?"

The Five-Element Ghost nodded, angry but obedient.

Mo Hua was satisfied, then asked the real question:

"What exactly did you steal from the Legacy Chamber?"

The Five-Element Ghost's expression shifted, "If I tell you, will you spare me?"

Mo Hua beamed, "If I say I will, do you believe me?"

The Five-Element Ghost's eyelid twitched.

I believe you? Pfft!

"Either way, I'm dead—why should I tell you?" the Five-Element Ghost growled.

Mo Hua didn't waste words; he pointed a finger, and the spiritual threads spread again, forcing the Five-Element Ghost to kill itself once more.

Stabbing yourself with your own claws really hurts.

Keep going like this, and you'll really die!

The Five-Element Ghost panicked and cried out immediately:

"I'll tell you!"

"I'll tell you!"

Mo Hua nodded. "Speak."

The Wuxing Specter sighed. "What I stole from the training hall… was a single array pattern."

Mo Hua frowned. "A single array pattern?"

The Wuxing Specter nodded.

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened. "You're lying to me again? How could it possibly be just one array pattern?"

The Wuxing Specter cursed inwardly.

This brat has too much suspicion.

But now that things had come to this, it dared not lie anymore.

The Wuxing Specter sighed helplessly.

"This isn't an ordinary array pattern. It's called a 'Source Pattern'—formed by five-colored, five-element ink strokes, all converging into one single pattern."

"The five colors correspond to metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—the Five Elements. Each stroke contains a source current of one element."

"This 'Source Pattern' symbolizes the origin of Wuxing Sect's array arts, embodying the blood and sweat of its ancestors—it is the ultimate legacy of Wuxing Sect's array techniques!"

Mo Hua was slightly startled. After a moment's thought, he asked the question that mattered most to him:

"Then where is this array pattern now?"

The Wuxing Specter stammered. "I… damaged it…"

"Damaged it?"

The Wuxing Specter said: "At first, I merely impersonated a transmission elder in the training hall, swindling others… Then, by chance, I wandered into the legacy hall and saw the array pattern at its center…"

The Wuxing Specter's eyes gleamed with longing. "That pattern—five colors swirling, luminous and brilliant…"

"I didn't understand arrays at all, but just one glance—one single glance—and I felt I had grasped the vast majority of Wuxing Sect's array techniques…"

"I knew then: this was the pinnacle of Wuxing Sect's legacy."

"It was Wuxing Sect's most forbidden secret!"

"A secret even the current Wuxing Sect didn't know about!"

"This pattern was too beautiful…"

"I sat on the meditation cushion and stared, stared endlessly. Though I still didn't understand arrays or their principles, it felt as if my instincts could manifest all kinds of Five Element arrays…"

"Even… the Five Element Spirit Array!"

"But as I stared, greed arose within me."

"I thought such a treasure shouldn't be left to gather dust."

"If I took it out, contemplated it daily, studied it daily, and occasionally fed on humans to replenish my spiritual awareness, someday when my spiritual sense grew strong enough—wouldn't I be able to master and manifest every single Five Element array in this world?!"

"This pattern is mine! I must take it out of the hall!"

"But this Source Pattern was embedded among countless other array patterns—as if it had emerged from them, resonating with them, bound together, impossible to extract alone…"

"I didn't know arrays or how to calculate their structure. Not knowing what else to do, I simply smashed the entire array, destroying every surrounding pattern…"

"But when I destroyed those patterns, the 'Source Pattern' dimmed—and its Five Element energy leaked away, slowly vanishing…"

The Wuxing Specter felt both regret and anguish.

"With the Source Pattern gone, I only grasped a small portion of the Five Element arrays. Fearing discovery by the Wuxing Sect, I sneaked out of the hall and found a way to escape, to leave the shrine…"

"If I had the Source Pattern…"

The Wuxing Specter stole a glance at Mo Hua.

It didn't say it aloud—but its gaze was unmistakable.

It meant: had it possessed the Source Pattern, Mo Hua would never have been its match.

Mo Hua frowned, puzzled.

He felt the Wuxing Specter's words were full of inconsistencies, yet its expression and gaze seemed utterly sincere.

This was strange…

Mo Hua recalled the layout of the hall, and the sudden, broken array patterns at its center—they truly did look as if they had been violently destroyed, leaving gaps…

If the Wuxing Specter spoke the truth, then Wuxing Sect's legacy had truly been erased…

Source Pattern…

Mo Hua stared at the Wuxing Specter again for several moments, then suddenly froze. A shock struck his heart. He spoke in a low, cold voice:

"You're lying to me!"

The Wuxing Specter hurriedly said:

"I'm not lying!"

Mo Hua shook his head. "No—it's not you lying to me. It's you who's been deceived…"

The Wuxing Specter blinked. "Deceived by whom?"

Mo Hua's expression hardened. "Deceived by the array pattern!"

"How could that be?" The Wuxing Specter shook its head. "What are you talking about?"

Mo Hua's voice turned icy. "How did you come to know the words 'Source Pattern'?"

"Source Pattern…"

The Wuxing Specter froze, thinking deeply—then its eyes filled with terror.

Right… how did I know that term?

Who told me?

Where did I hear it?

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened as he continued:

"I've never heard the words 'Source Pattern.' My master never mentioned them…"

"This must be an extremely obscure ancient lineage."

"Since it is a lost, ancient lineage of the Wuxing Sect, then even the current Wuxing Sect, including the Wuxing Sect from centuries ago, would almost certainly have no one who knows it..."

"If no one knows, then no one speaks of it..."

"You are a child who doesn't understand arrays. If no one told you, how could you possibly know?"

"No one told you, unless..."

Mo Hua's gaze brightened slightly, and he said slowly, "The 'Yuan Wen' told you!"

The Wuxing Ghost's pupils shrank.

"Or rather..."

Mo Hua's tone became solemn:

"You have been parasitized by that 'Yuan Wen'!"

"The you that exists now is, in truth, a puppet of that 'Yuan Wen'!"

The Wuxing Ghost stared blankly, then let out a hollow laugh, murmuring:

"What nonsense are you speaking?"

"How could I possibly be parasitized without knowing it myself..."

"This can't be..."

He did not finish; suddenly he froze, then his entire body began trembling uncontrollably, twisting irregularly.

At the Tianmen on his forehead, a five-colored pattern suddenly flared to life.

This pattern was ancient and profound.

It consisted of five strokes, corresponding to the Five Elements, each in a distinct color—vivid, dazzling, and strikingly bright, shaped in an ancient and bizarre manner, like the eyes of five strange beasts.

Within those eyes lay the cruelty and indifference of the Dao.

Mo Hua's gaze trembled.

This was the 'Five Element Yuan Wen'—calculated by the entire Wuxing Sect thousands of years ago!

(End of Chapter)