Chapter 544

The Grand Elder summoned Master Liao.

Master Liao stared at the shrine for a long time, then frowned and said:

"It seems… there really is a missing door…"

Both frowned, deeply puzzled.

This shrine was passed down from the ancestors of the Wuxing Sect; it was a spiritual mind arena containing the legacy of the Five Elements Spirit Array.

The shrine was crafted by the ancestors of the Wuxing Sect, its mysteries boundless.

Who could possibly have forced open the shrine's door?

And how did they do it?

Was it Master Zhuang's three disciples, or the little ghost inside?

Master Liao was also aware of the little ghost.

This was an ancient secret of the Wuxing Sect.

To prevent the array from being lost, centuries ago, the former head of the Wuxing Sect deliberately captured a little ghost and sealed it within the shrine to nurture it, letting it weave illusions and deceive outsiders, to guard against the core legacy of the Wuxing Sect leaking out…

But now, the shrine's door was broken, and the little ghost had vanished…

Master Liao exclaimed in alarm: "Then the legacy of the Five Elements Spirit Array…"

The Grand Elder shook his head and sighed:

"I don't know either…"

He raised his eyes again, studying the shrine, and frowned:

"For these past centuries, I've always felt that within this shrine, there was a peculiar essence… as if it concealed some special legacy…"

"But now, with the shrine's door missing, that essence has suddenly vanished…"

"Whatever was inside seems to have been emptied by some unknown hand…"

The current shrine was merely an empty shell, like an abandoned palace—vast and desolate.

Master Liao exclaimed: "Grand Elder, what other legacies does the Wuxing Sect still have?"

The Grand Elder remained silent.

Because he didn't know.

Master Liao shook his head, sneering inwardly.

Putting on airs—what other legacy did the Wuxing Sect have besides the Five Elements Spirit Array?

Even the Five Elements Spirit Array was meaningless; no one could learn it, and no one ever could…

But he naturally couldn't voice these words.

A flash of sharp light passed through Master Liao's eyes; he whispered:

"Grand Elder, could it be that Master Zhuang and his people stole our Wuxing Sect's legacy?"

The Grand Elder's heart jolted; his frown deepened.

This was precisely what he feared…

Master Zhuang was inscrutably profound; his disciples were extraordinary talents—if the master and disciples had conspired to steal the Wuxing Sect's legacy, the consequences would be endless.

The key question is: what exactly is this legacy?

The Five Elements Spirit Array?

If it were the Five Elements Spirit Array, they couldn't make a case, because it was something they were meant to learn—and they learned it openly and legitimately.

But what if it wasn't just the Five Elements Spirit Array?

Not just the Five Elements Spirit Array…

What else could it be?

What else had the Laozu Sect of the Wuxing Sect left behind for itself?

The Grand Elder was utterly baffled.

Master Liao, with his own agenda, asked: "What do you plan to do?"

"Do?" The Grand Elder's gaze darkened. "You mean…"

"If there truly is another legacy within this shrine, it must be extraordinary—we must uncover it!"

"Uncover…"

Master Liao raised an eyebrow. "You know what I mean."

The Grand Elder hesitated.

Master Liao continued: "The shrine is damaged, the legacy has leaked, and Master Zhuang's disciples are the prime suspects—so…"

Master Liao leaned closer to the Grand Elder, lowering his voice:

"We must find a way to keep them here!"

"Keep them…"

The Grand Elder pondered.

Master Liao nodded, suggesting:

"Start by investigating the Wuxing Sect, then trace the missing little ghost, then investigate Master Zhuang and his disciples…"

"Until we uncover the truth, we must keep them here!"

"If the legacy is in their hands, we find a way to reclaim it; if not, we apologize, offer compensation, and let it go…"

The Grand Elder snorted coldly. "It's not that easy to let it go…"

Do you think you're holding whom?

Do you think Master Zhuang is easy to deal with?

Moreover, that wooden old man beside him has cultivation depth beyond measure.

Director Liao knew what the Grand Elder was concerned about, and he explained at length:

"We begin with courtesy, then force. First, we invite them to stay a while at our Wuxing Sect."

"Since there was some past goodwill between our ancestors, asking them to be our guests and exchange array techniques is reasonable…"

"They might even choose to stay."

"This is the 'courtesy' first. If they refuse, then we proceed with 'force'…"

"Zhuang the Elder and that old man may have formidable cultivation, but his disciples are merely Qi Condensation. These past days, they've sparred with our Wuxing Sect disciples—stronger than ordinary Qi Condensation, even approaching Foundation Establishment, but still only early Foundation Establishment. They cannot escape our Wuxing Sect's grasp…"

"Zhuang seems calm, but he clearly cares deeply for these disciples, especially that young apprentice surnamed Mo."

"If we seize just that young apprentice—or even any one of his disciples—we can force Zhuang the Master to submit."

"If that still fails…"

Director Liao pointed upward, his voice solemn: "We still have… the Five Elements Mountain-Preserving Great Array!"

The Grand Elder gasped: "Activate the Great Array?!"

Director Liao nodded. "Once the array is activated, we won't fail to hold them!"

"No matter how strong their cultivation, they dare not transcend the limits of Heaven's Dao—they will be trapped within this array!"

The Grand Elder frowned in thought. He found Director Liao's reasoning somewhat sound, yet he still lacked confidence.

He still dared not oppose Zhuang the Master.

Especially not within the Wuxing Sect's mountain gates, within the protection of the Mountain-Preserving Array, directly confronting Zhuang the Master.

"To break ties like this… isn't that unwise?"

The Grand Elder voiced his concern.

Director Liao stepped back, speaking softly:

"Grand Elder, we don't have to break ties with Zhuang the Master…"

"If we treat them with utmost hospitality and they decide to stay, wouldn't that be better?"

"Even if we must activate the array and resort to arms, we needn't fight to the death—only demand he hand over our Wuxing Sect's legacy. Even half of it is better than losing it all to outsiders…"

"Then we can give our Laozu a proper account…"

"Grand Elder…"

Director Liao looked at the Grand Elder, his tone earnest: "The legacy is paramount!"

The legacy is paramount!

The Grand Elder's heart trembled.

"Yes… all of this is for the sake of our Wuxing Sect's legacy!"

Even at risk, we must take it.

The Grand Elder glanced again at Director Liao, silently nodding.

This sect leader, though low in realm and narrow in vision, still knows how to act when matters arise—he has some strategy.

"Fine!" the Grand Elder said, nodding. "Go prepare at once. Make sure you keep them within our Wuxing Sect!"

Director Liao's face lit up. He bowed respectfully.

After their discussion, the Grand Elder remained before the shrine, lost in thought, deeply troubled.

Director Liao walked out alone from the Array Repository.

Night had fallen. Outside the Array Repository, carved beams and painted rafters gleamed in golden splendor.

Director Liao stepped out of the Array Repository, glanced back, and sneered.

"The legacy is paramount?"

"Legacy, my ass!"

"What legacy does the Wuxing Sect even have left?"

Array studies have declined. Array masters have vanished.

Today's Wuxing Sect is all earth and wood, hollow on the inside—just like that shrine—a Jin Yuqiwai shell.

No people. No arrays. Only a shell. What good is that?

Reviving the sect is a joke.

Director Liao sneered, then twisted his jade ring.

But it's not all loss…

Over these years, I've taken my share—squeezed every last drop of value from these rotten beams and decaying pillars. I've grown rich. Now, I can leave…

The mess is someone else's.

The Spirit Stones are mine!

As for the Wuxing Sect…

Director Liao snorted.

Though I am of the Wuxing Sect, I am merely a title. Switching sects is no great matter.

But before I depart, this Wuxing Sect still has one final use…

Director Liao took in the entire Wuxing Sect mountain domain, a cold smile curling on his lips.

…

Two days later, Director Liao visited Zhuang the Master.

He still wore an expression of calm innocence, devoid of guile, and said sincerely:

"Your humble servant has long admired Elder Zhuang. My earlier criticisms and harassment were unjust—I beg your forgiveness…"

Zhuang the Master said nothing.

Director Liao continued:

"... Now that the inheritance is settled, and fortune has aligned, I humbly beg the elder to stay a while longer at the Wuxing Sect, so I may at least fulfill my duty as host."

Liao Zhu Sect spoke with heartfelt sincerity, yet his heart was tightly clenched.

He could not fathom Mr. Zhuang's intentions, could not read his thoughts; under Mr. Zhuang's deep gaze, he felt as if thorns pricked his back, sweat beading coldly.

Liao Zhu Sect waited anxiously for Mr. Zhuang's reply.

Mr. Zhuang pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "Fine."

That single "fine" lifted a great weight from Liao Zhu Sect's shoulders.

He felt his whole body lighten, and could not help but smile.

"The elder's gracious acceptance fills this junior with boundless gratitude."

Mr. Zhuang gave a slight nod, said nothing more, and lifted his cup to drink.

Liao Zhu Sect, ever perceptive, bowed and said:

"Then I shall not disturb the elder's quiet cultivation. I take my leave."

After Liao Zhu Sect departed, Mr. Zhuang called Mo Hua over, thought for a moment, then instructed:

"For now, train diligently—build your Foundation here, within the Wuxing Sect."

Mo Hua was startled. "Here?"

The Wuxing Sect was no good place.

From top to bottom, they harbored envy and hatred toward him; not outright hostility, but certainly ill will.

Yet Mr. Zhuang was firm: "No matter. Build your Foundation here!"

Mo Hua hesitated. "Isn't this a bit too soon...?"

His cultivation had only reached Qi Condensation Ninth Layer a few months ago; his qi sea was still unstable, his foundation weak, his cultivation far from solid...

Now attempting Foundation Establishment felt premature.

Mr. Zhuang spoke gently: "Your elemental roots... are not strong. No matter how much you cultivate, your qi will always be limited. So don't overthink it—no need to polish your realm, no need for a rock-solid foundation. Just break through. As long as you achieve Foundation Establishment, that's enough..."

Though his tone was gentle, the words still stung.

"Alright..."

Mo Hua nodded, then asked: "Master, is my spiritual sense strong enough yet?"

"Does drawing the Five Elements Spiritual Array enhance your spiritual sense?" Mr. Zhuang asked.

"Yes, but only slightly..." Mo Hua replied honestly.

"Can you break past the Fourteen Lines?"

Mo Hua thought, then shook his head. "It feels impossible..."

These past days, whenever he had free time, he drew the Five Elements Spiritual Array.

The five elemental arrays—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water—he drew them over and over again.

He drew them by day, and on the Dao Stele by night.

His spiritual sense had indeed grown slowly, and the growth rate was quite noticeable—far stronger than when he drew the Spirit Pivot Array.

The Five Elements Spiritual Array required only Thirteen Lines, but because it demanded "spiritual sense incarnating the Dao," one had to split part of one's spiritual sense to merge with the array and unify with the qi.

Thus, the actual spiritual sense consumed was slightly more than Thirteen Lines.

The Spirit Pivot Array required only Twelve Lines.

The spiritual sense gained from drawing the Spirit Pivot Array was like a small stream.

The spiritual sense gained from drawing the Five Elements Spiritual Array was like a small river.

Yet whether stream or river, before the threshold from Thirteen to Fourteen Lines, both were like a cup of water trying to fill a chasm.

It was like pouring water into a ravine—the water was not little, yet the ravine was bottomless, never filling...

Mr. Zhuang pondered for a moment, then said: "Then forget it. Build your Foundation with spiritual sense at the peak of Thirteen Lines..."

"No need to reach Fourteen Lines?" Mo Hua asked weakly.

Mr. Zhuang shook his head and sighed:

"Don't force it. Fourteen Lines are excellent, but truly too difficult..."

And plans could not keep pace with change—there was little time left...

A flicker of melancholy passed through Mr. Zhuang's gaze, then he added:

"Build your Foundation with Thirteen Lines at its peak. Though not the ultimate, it is already very good..."

Mr. Zhuang had wanted to say "excellent," but hesitated, unwilling to let Mo Hua grow arrogant.

Yet truthfully, to possess Thirteen Lines at peak spiritual sense while still in Qi Condensation—even in his own experience—was exceedingly rare, bordering on the absolute limit...

Beyond that, it was truly too difficult.

Mr. Zhuang said solemnly: "With Thirteen Lines at peak spiritual sense, you will break through the barrier, doubling your spiritual sense, reaching between Fourteen and Sixteen Lines in Foundation Establishment."

"As for the exact level, it depends on fate..."

Mo Hua asked curiously: "Master, if spiritual sense doubles, why isn't it Twenty-Six Lines?"

Mr. Zhuang paused, then tapped Mo Hua's forehead:

"What are you thinking? Spiritual sense doesn't grow like simple addition."

"Lines are merely scales."

"The quantity of spiritual sense between two scales can differ vastly."

"The gap between Qi Condensation Nine Lines and Foundation Establishment Ten Lines is already a full doubling."

"Twenty-Six Lines? That's already Jin Dan territory..."

"How could such a thing happen..."

Mo Hua chuckled awkwardly, then asked curiously again:

"Master, is the spiritual sense between Foundation Establishment early stage and mid-stage also doubled?"

Mr. Zhuang said: "Not necessarily. The spiritual sense differs greatly between Foundation Establishment early stage and mid-stage, but not by a full doubling."

Mo Hua's mind was sharp, and he noticed another issue:

"Then why, when I broke through to Foundation Establishment, did my spiritual sense double, yet only reach mid-stage?"

Mr. Zhuang sipped tea, then continued explaining to Mo Hua:

"Because the later you go, the slower and harder spiritual sense becomes to grow."

"Moreover, your situation is unusual—your current spiritual sense is already very strong, so when you break through the realm, it will surge greatly, but not necessarily double."

"The Dao maintains balance—it always has limits, always imposes restrictions..."

"Without limits, this child's spiritual sense would truly become 'lawless and boundless'..."

Mr. Zhuang glanced at Mo Hua and silently sighed in his heart.

Mo Hua nodded, half-understanding.

"Alright, focus on your cultivation..."

Mr. Zhuang glanced at Mo Hua again and smiled gently:

"I estimate it won't take a month before your cultivation is nearly complete—try breaking through the realm, see what the Great Expansion Sword Art's bottleneck is, then find a way to break through it and establish your Dao foundation!"

"Yes!"

Mo Hua nodded, his eyes shining.

Though he wouldn't reach the Fourteen Patterns, it was a pity, but he was about to establish the Foundation—he was still very happy.

Without the Fourteen Patterns, so be it...

Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, the Dao follows Nature.

Cultivating the Dao requires following the natural flow; one must not force it.

One must not be greedy like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.

For the next month, Mo Hua devoted himself entirely to cultivation, continuously absorbing Spirit Stones.

Even when studying arrays, he only studied them on the Dao Stele at Zi Hour; during the day, he spent nearly all his time seated in meditation, refining Spirit Stones.

Daily cultivation demands neither haste nor delay—drop by drop, water wears through stone.

Persist daily, train with consistency.

But now that he was nearing Foundation Establishment, he must spend more time, more Spirit Stones—use every moment and every stone on the cutting edge.

Mo Hua cultivated with undivided focus, preparing for Foundation Establishment.

Bai Zi Xi and Bai Zisheng knew Mo Hua was about to establish the Foundation, so they did not disturb him; instead, they silently guarded their junior brother, guarding against any mishaps in his cultivation or interference from others.

And Mo Hua's cultivation progressed smoothly.

Spirit Stones were consumed one by one, and his spiritual energy increased bit by bit.

Finally, after a month:

Mo Hua's cultivation reached the peak of Qi Refinement Ninth Layer.

At the same time, he touched the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment...

(End of Chapter)