Chapter 640: Reconstruction

"How do you 'reconstruct' a transmission token?"

After days of experimentation and poring over countless array texts, combined with his own understanding of the Beacon Meta-Magnetic Array, Mo Hua began to grasp the general outline.

Reconstructing a transmission token relies on the principle of "Meta-Magnetic Transmission."

The meta-magnetic array in ordinary jade slips is a single meta-magnetic array.

The meta-magnetic array involved in transmission tokens is a compound meta-magnetic array.

A compound meta-magnetic array requires a core node to control magnetic pattern sensing and information transmission between different meta-magnetic arrays.

Mo Hua discovered through the transmission token in his hand:

To send a message to Uncle Gu, he must first use his spiritual sense to manipulate magnetic ink and manifest characters.

When the characters appear, the magnetic ink changes, triggering irregular magnetic pattern shifts.

These irregular magnetic pattern shifts are transmitted via subtle secondary thunder marks to the fixed magnetic patterns.

The core node's control and magnetic pattern sensing within the fixed magnetic patterns transmit this array pattern change to the underlying fixed magnetic patterns in another transmission token within the same compound array—namely, Uncle Gu's own "transmission token."

Then, Uncle Gu's transmission token receives and senses this through its underlying fixed magnetic patterns.

Through the sequence of secondary thunder marks, irregular magnetic patterns, magnetic ink, and characters, it manifests the sensation as visible text.

The entire process is the transmission of textual information from one transmission token, from surface to core, passing sequentially through magnetic ink, irregular magnetic patterns, secondary thunder marks, fixed magnetic patterns, and core node sensing, to another transmission token.

The other transmission token then reverses the process, from core to surface, transmitting sequentially through underlying fixed magnetic patterns, secondary thunder marks, irregular magnetic patterns, and magnetic ink, ultimately manifesting as text.

Together, these form a complete, complex cycle of a compound meta-magnetic array.

Mo Hua sighed.

But all this was beyond his current ability to learn.

With his present spiritual sense level, he could not yet master such a compound meta-magnetic array.

He would need at least a seventeen-mark spiritual sense, post-Foundation Establishment.

Fortunately, reconstructing the text on a transmission token does not require mastering the entire meta-magnetic sensing compound array—only the final terminal segment of meta-magnetic transmission.

Once text is transmitted, the entire process becomes fixed.

Erasing text merely erases the final magnetic ink and alters the irregular magnetic patterns; the rest of the process remains unchanged.

The fixed magnetic patterns are immutable.

The magnetic flow is a secondary thunder flow, latent, a residual secondary thunder mark left behind in meta-magnetic movement, also fixed.

Thus, one need only reconstruct the fixed magnetic patterns within the transmission token.

Simultaneously, use computational divination to observe and record the residual secondary thunder marks left by the magnetic flow.

With the fixed magnetic patterns and the secondary thunder marks, one can simulate the irregular magnetic patterns.

Once the irregular magnetic patterns are determined, magnetic ink can be used to "reconstruct" the text.

Mo Hua nodded.

This entire array logic was his own deduction; it might have flaws, but it was largely free of error.

Once a transmission token is used, it inevitably generates magnetic flow, leaving traces of secondary thunder marks.

These secondary thunder marks are faint and hidden, invisible to ordinary cultivators.

But with his fusion of Celestial Mechanism Calculation and enhanced spiritual sense, he could perceive these hidden secondary thunder mark traces.

The only current problem, however, was the fixed magnetic patterns…

Mo Hua discovered that the fixed magnetic patterns differed between different transmission tokens.

He had not realized this before.

Only after dismantling the transmission token sent to him by Gu Changhuai did Mo Hua fully understand…

Mo Hua looked at the token in his hand—now split into two pieces, exposing its underlying fixed array patterns, but damaged by overly crude handling, with cracks on the jade token, now a "battle-damaged" version of the "transmission token"—and sighed…

To study the array, Mo Hua "reluctantly" dismantled the transmission token Uncle Gu had given him…

He possessed three tokens involving the array principles of meta-magnetic transmission.

He could not dismantle the Grand Void Gate's Grand Void Token.

He couldn't even if he wanted to…

He could not dismantle the Bald Eagle's transmission token either, not yet.

It might contain secrets; if damaged, the secrets would be lost.

After much deliberation, he could only dismantle the transmission token Uncle Gu had given him.

If he broke it, he could merely apologize and make amends to Uncle Gu—no great loss.

Through this "learning by dismantling," Mo Hua genuinely understood some of the array's logic.

He also realized that his greatest obstacle to restoring text by reconstructing "magnetic patterns" was the fixed magnetic patterns.

Because Mo Hua found he could not understand the fixed magnetic patterns within the transmission token…

He had learned and memorized the fixed magnetic patterns of the Beacon Meta-Magnetic Array at the second-rank, sixteen-mark level.

But the fixed array patterns in the transmission token left him utterly baffled.

The two sets of array patterns resembled each other in form, yet their details varied immensely.

They clearly belonged to the same category of array patterns, yet he could not discern the specific meaning of each individual pattern.

This differed from the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams array patterns.

Though Five Elements and Eight Trigrams array patterns had variants, their basic forms remained consistent.

One could clearly identify which Five Elements and Eight Trigrams attribute each pattern corresponded to.

For example, a fire-element pattern naturally symbolized "fire."

But meta-magnetic array patterns were abstract, more like a type of "indicative" or "compound ideographic" script.

He could not discern what each pattern was actually "symbolizing."

And the functions of jade slips, transmission orders, and even the Grand Void Order are all determined by fixed magnetic patterns.

If you don't understand the meaning of these fixed magnetic patterns, future study of Yuan Magnetic arrays will likely amount to nothing more than "copying the gourd."

Knowing what, but not why.

Mo Hua sighed.

He had thought mastering the "Beacon Yuan Magnetic Array" would at least count as an introduction, but he hadn't expected he might merely have copied a template and learned only a superficial sketch.

The deeper he studied, the more complex and profound things he encountered.

"The meaning of fixed magnetic patterns…"

Mo Hua took out the Grand Void Order again and flipped through the "Merit Record," but after searching for a long time, he still found no array diagrams, array texts, or array explanations related to "fixed magnetic patterns."

"Does the Grand Void Gate not have any?"

"That shouldn't be possible…"

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then after class, went to the Elder's residence and found Master Xun.

"Fixed magnetic patterns?"

Master Xun looked surprised.

"Yes." Mo Hua nodded. "Master, I want to know what meanings fixed magnetic patterns actually carry…"

Master Xun hesitated.

This went beyond the scope of his expected array transmission…

And it was getting increasingly detailed…

For matters within the transmission scope, if Mo Hua asked, he could answer without hesitation and without holding back.

But this child kept asking questions far beyond the curriculum…

Not telling him, letting him fumble blindly, might lead him to learn something meaningless—or worse.

But telling him—these things are simply not suitable for someone of his age and cultivation level.

Learning too far ahead, without structure, no one knows what shape he might ultimately take…

Master Xun frowned in thought.

"Master?" Mo Hua ventured. "Is this information highly classified? Are you not at liberty to teach it?"

Master Xun snapped back to himself and nodded slightly. "Generally speaking, such things are not taught…"

Array masters in the sect rarely, if ever, need them.

But since Mo Hua wishes to learn…

Master Xun pondered for a moment and sighed.

Then let him learn.

This child is unlike the others—his array progress is already extremely fast, and his foundation is solid; there's no need to constrain him further.

If he wants to learn, let him learn.

If I don't teach him, over time, he may stop coming to me when he encounters problems.

This child is intelligent; left to his own devices, he'll surely find some insights.

But whether those insights are good or bad, right or wrong—that's uncertain.

If he learns wrongly, learns badly, and strays onto the dark path of arraycraft, it will be too late to regret.

If I teach him, and he comes to me with questions, I can still guide him, preventing him from wandering off course unknowingly.

I can also prevent this child from wasting his time and talent on useless dead ends.

But no one else must know…

Otherwise, they might say I favor him.

After deliberating, Master Xun whispered: "I'll teach you in secret—you learn in secret, and don't tell anyone…"

Learn in secret…

Mo Hua nodded eagerly. "Master, rest assured."

He was familiar with this!

Master Xun then explained gently:

"Fixed magnetic patterns are a special kind of array pattern, distinct from the Five Elements, Eight Trigrams, and even other Yin-Yang or Three Talents array patterns…"

"Other array patterns derive from heaven and earth, following nature's laws."

"But fixed magnetic patterns are a product of arraycraft's development—bearing heavier traces of 'human design.'"

"This means that if you don't understand the 'human-given' meanings embedded in fixed magnetic patterns, viewing them purely as array patterns makes them nearly impossible to comprehend."

Mo Hua froze.

No wonder…

He had always viewed fixed magnetic patterns through traditional array thinking, which was why they felt so alien.

Master Xun continued: "You can think of fixed magnetic patterns simply as a specific kind of 'writing.'"

Mo Hua blinked. "Writing?"

"Precisely." Master Xun nodded. "Fixed magnetic patterns are a specially designed system of array patterns, derived from basic Eight Trigram patterns, created by humans to express the functions of Yuan Magnetic arrays."

"This system contains numerous variations and carries extraordinarily rich meanings."

"That's why it's more like a unique set of 'writing.'"

Master Xun took up a brush and wrote several array patterns on a blank space of an array draft, then asked Mo Hua:

"Do you know what these array patterns mean?"

Mo Hua studied them carefully and shook his head.

He knew these were Yuan Magnetic array patterns, but their specific meanings—he had no idea.

Mr. Xun picked up his brush again and added textual annotations after the array patterns.

Mo Hua.

Fifteen years old.

Entry disciple of Grand Void Gate.

Native place: Lizhou, Second-Rank Great Heishan Prefecture, Tongxian City.

Authorization: Outer Gate, Initial-Stage disciple of Grand Void Gate;

Identity: Second-Rank, Initial-Stage Array Master.

……

"This is…" Mo Hua's heart jolted, "the fixed magnetic patterns in the Grand Void Token?"

Mr. Xun nodded. "Correct. Part of the lowest-layer array patterns in your Grand Void Token are composed of these fixed magnetic patterns…"

"But the Grand Void Token is sealed tightly—you cannot see these patterns."

"Even if you saw them, you wouldn't understand them."

"Because you don't know what these fixed magnetic patterns mean. More plainly, you cannot read these special characters encoded by magnetic patterns…"

Mo Hua's eyes lit up, suddenly understanding, then asked:

"Then, Mr. Xun, how does one learn these fixed magnetic patterns?"

Mr. Xun's expression turned subtle. "You want to learn?"

Mo Hua nodded honestly.

Mr. Xun was reluctant. "Too complicated. Extremely time-consuming. You'd be better off drawing the Eight Trigrams array dozens of times…"

Mo Hua's gaze was clear, brimming with curiosity.

"Then teach me just a little…"

Mr. Xun, gazing into Mo Hua's bright, eager eyes, found it hard to refuse.

He thought for a while, then his heart softened with a sigh.

"I'll teach you just a little…"

"Mm-hmm."

Mr. Xun paused, then asked: "Suppose you wanted to learn a foreign language—what would you need?"

Mo Hua thought a moment, then replied carefully: "A dictionary?"

Mr. Xun nodded. "Correct. You need a dictionary."

He added: "The same logic applies to fixed magnetic patterns…"

"You can treat them as 'characters' encoded by array patterns. To learn them, you naturally need a 'Dictionary of Array Patterns,' comparing them side by side—only then can you know which magnetic pattern corresponds to which meaning."

"To express your own intent, which magnetic patterns must you draw…"

"And so on…"

As Mr. Xun spoke these words, his heart gave another thump—he realized, unconsciously, he'd just said something "dangerous" again…

Mr. Xun frowned, then grew irritated.

Every time he taught Mo Hua something, this "omen" appeared.

Sometimes, even when he hadn't taught anything, this "omen" still came…

It never ended…

To hell with it—forget it!

Mr. Xun's expression hardened, and he grew stern.

He had, with his own mediocre but serviceable Celestial Calculation Method, done a slight divination.

This omen should bring no great harm to Grand Void Gate.

If it brings no harm to Grand Void Gate, then matters beyond the sect are none of his concern.

A sect's purpose is to establish its way, transmit teachings, and resolve doubts.

Could he, because of some inexplicable "omen," become timid and withhold all teaching from such a promising disciple?

With this thought, Mr. Xun felt a fullness in his body, his mind clear and unblocked.

He thought, then pulled out a thin volume.

"This contains partial annotations on variable magnetic patterns…"

"You may read it in your spare time, but again—don't waste too much time. This material has very narrow application. Don't dig yourself into a hole, abandon the main path for side alleys, and waste your years on these trivial details…"

"Mm-hmm." Mo Hua hurriedly said: "Thank you, Mr. Xun!"

He cherished and valued the book, *Annotations on Variable Magnetic Patterns*, holding it gently in his hands—it was thin, the content sparse—and asked softly:

"Mr. Xun, do you have more?"

This "dictionary" seemed rather limited…

Mr. Xun shook his head. "No more! Learning even this much is already good."

"Then when I've learned this…"

Mr. Xun cut him off: "Even after you've learned it, there's nothing more."

Mo Hua didn't believe him. "You don't have any more?"

Mr. Xun looked at Mo Hua and sighed:

"Array arts are vast and profound, with countless categories. Even the most gifted Array Master, through a lifetime, cannot master them all…"

"To be frank," Mr. Xun said openly, "regarding variable magnetic patterns, I've merely dabbled—I haven't studied them deeply. So I only have this little *Annotations*. Nothing more."

Mo Hua felt Mr. Xun was lying, but he had no proof.

And Mr. Xun was of high virtue and great prestige; logically, he had no reason to deceive him.

Mo Hua asked again: "Where is it abundant?"

"In Dao Ting Si," said Master Xun.

Mo Hua froze. "Dao Ting Si?"

Master Xun nodded. "Magnetic script annotations involving classified transmissions are naturally most fully archived by Dao Ting Si—but unless you're an insider, you shouldn't be able to see them…"

An insider…

Mo Hua kept his expression neutral, feigning disappointment.

"Alright…"

"Do what you can, don't overreach…" Master Xun warned Mo Hua again.

Mo Hua nodded repeatedly, finished his questions, rose, bowed, and took his leave.

Master Xun watched Mo Hua depart, thinking nothing more of it.

…

After returning, Mo Hua began studying the book *Fixed Magnetic Script Annotations*.

His spiritual awareness was stuck at a bottleneck, and his array skills were stuck at sixteen script marks—he could no longer learn more advanced arrays.

At night, practicing arrays on the Dao Stele, he focused primarily on refining his spiritual awareness, with grounding as secondary.

So it didn't matter much which array he studied.

From then on, Mo Hua devoted all his spare time to learning the *Fixed Magnetic Script Annotations*.

Mastering an "external language" of arrays was still very important.

Moreover, this subject wasn't as difficult as Mo Hua had imagined.

It merely required vast amounts of time to memorize, practice, and integrate thoroughly.

For Mo Hua, who possessed the Dao Stele, this was nothing.

Thus, Mo Hua studied day and night for nearly half a month, until he nearly grasped the Fixed Magnetic Script.

He could now preliminarily express his array intentions through the Fixed Magnetic Script.

The *Fixed Magnetic Script Annotations* given by Master Xun, though thin, covered broad ground and was highly practical.

After learning it, Mo Hua could finally "read" the meaning encoded in the Fixed Magnetic Script on the transmission orders.

As for more comprehensive, deeper Fixed Magnetic Script "dictionaries"…

Later, when he had time, he could figure out a way to "pluck some wool" from Dao Ting Si.

But now, he would attempt to "reconstruct" the transmission orders!

Mo Hua's spirits lifted. After some thought, he decided to start by practicing on the transmission order gifted to him by Uncle Gu.

If he broke it, he could still repair it.

It would also make it easier for him to verify whether his reconstructed text was correct.

Mo Hua then sent a few more phrases like "Uncle Gu, are you there?" and waited for Gu Changhuai's reply; after receiving it, he erased those replies.

Then, on another array plate, he began simulating and attempting to reconstruct the magnetic script.

First, Mo Hua replicated a set of Fixed Magnetic Script identical to that in the transmission order.

Through Master Xun's *Fixed Magnetic Script Annotations*, the Fixed Magnetic Script now looked to him not like a set of array marks.

It resembled instead a set of utterly straightforward explanatory "characters."

As if a coded message had been decrypted, the mist cleared, revealing its original meaning:

Every sequence, transmission direction, conduction method, and logical structure within the transmission order…

Mo Hua saw them all clearly, unmistakably.

After replicating the foundational Fixed Magnetic Script, Mo Hua carefully recorded the "secondary thunder script" traces left by the magnetic flow during the prior transmission.

Then, on the array plate, Mo Hua began simulating the operation of the Meta-Magnetic Array.

As Mo Hua had anticipated:

The fixed Fixed Magnetic Script, combined with the fixed secondary thunder script, after a series of meta-magnetic interactions, indeed generated a unique set of variable magnetic script.

And this set of variable magnetic script, through magnetic ink, manifested on the array plate as text:

"Get to the point. Don't ask 'Are you there!'"

"Didn't I tell you not to bother me unless you have something?"

"What is it?"

"Why aren't you replying?"

…

It was indeed the exact text Uncle Gu had sent him through the transmission order—and which he himself had erased!

Mo Hua was overjoyed.

Seeing that Uncle Gu's message had not yet been answered, Mo Hua replied:

"Any progress on the Huo Fotuo lead?"

In the sect, secluded to study arrays, he had heard nothing about Huo Fotuo in the past half-month.

The other side fell silent for a moment, as if hesitating, then said: "On the next ten-day rest, come to the Gu household—I'll tell you then…"

Mo Hua froze.

What had happened?

Or was there some taboo preventing it from being mentioned in the transmission order?

Mo Hua couldn't figure it out, so he replied:

"Alright."

After that, Gu Changhuai sent no further messages.

Mo Hua shook his head and let it go.

Whatever it is, wait until the day after tomorrow to go to the Gu household and ask in front of Uncle Gu.

It's just unclear where that Huo Fotuo is hiding—why is he so hard to find…

He clearly slaughtered an entire family, burned the corpses, and caused such a huge commotion, yet afterward, he vanished without a trace…

Mo Hua felt something was off.

With only one day left until the day after tomorrow's ten-day rest, Mo Hua grew impatient and distracted.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

The messenger token from the Bald Eagle.

Now that I can reconstruct magnetic patterns, can I also restore the content within the Bald Eagle's messenger token?

What might be inside the Bald Eagle's messenger token?

Though this might have nothing to do with Huo Fotuo, Mo Hua was still curious.

Since there's still some time before going to the Gu household to find Uncle Gu, I might as well first "restore" the Bald Eagle's messenger token…

Mo Hua's spirits lifted.

No time to waste—he did as before: dismantled the Bald Eagle's messenger token, copied its underlying magnetic pattern, and recorded the traces of the secondary thunder marks.

Then, on another array plate, he began reconstruction…

After spending most of the day, characters began to appear on the magnetic ink of the array plate:

……

"June 10, Yuncang City, sows, six…"

"June 12, outskirts of Qingyun City, ducks, three…"

"July, Jincheng, chicks, eight…"

"Twentieth, Baihua, acquired one immortal crane, presented to Young Master…"

"October, Liushancheng, twenty cattle and horses…"

……

Mo Hua stared, utterly baffled.

"What the hell…?"

Does the Bald Eagle run a business trading spirit livestock?

Mo Hua stared at the characters again, and a chilling suspicion slowly rose in his mind.

"These spirit livestock… aren't they…"

Mo Hua's gaze sharpened, his expression grim.

(End of Chapter)