After returning home, Mo Hua followed Mr. Zhuang's instructions and began to study array solving.
He leaned over his small desk, first roughly flipping through the "Collection of Array Solutions," then comparing it with what he had learned before, checking for any gaps.
He skipped over what he had already mastered, making note of unfamiliar, unclear, or confusing array concepts, and then went back to review them slowly and carefully.
After spending an hour, having a general impression, Mo Hua put away the "Collection of Array Solutions."
For now, seeing this much was enough. With a framework in mind, he could come back to review specific problems when encountering them during array solving.
Afterward, Mo Hua cautiously opened the ancient array diagram and began to study the Inverse Spiritual Array.
The Inverse Spiritual Array did not belong to the category of Five Elements array formations; it was a special type of array formation that Mo Hua had never learned before.
Inverse Spiritual Array patterns, array cores, and brush techniques all had different requirements. Although it was still an array formation, the feeling of drawing it was completely different.
Mo Hua felt a bit nervous and excited.
He was nervous because the Inverse Spiritual Array was indeed much more difficult, and he didn't know if he could learn it.
He felt excited because while the Inverse Spiritual Array and the Five Elements Array were both array formations, they were completely different, even diverging greatly from ordinary first-class array formations.
One-grade, ten-patterns, a uniqueness of the Heavenly Dao, not limited by grades—this subverted Mo Hua's established understanding of array formations.
At the same time, Mo Hua felt anticipation.
There were many other types of array formations in the world that he didn't know about, and there were also many other top-tier array formations that could be considered "unique to the Heavenly Dao."
These array formations were stored in families, sects, or the Dao Court, or in some unknown forces.
Or they remained in ancient gates, cave ruins, ancient tombs, the wilderness, boundless seas, or some inconspicuous corner of the Nine Provinces.
Mo Hua wondered if he would be able to travel across the Nine Provinces in the future, searching for ancient arrays.
If he learned all these array formations, would he truly be able to possess earth-shattering powers?
Mo Hua daydreamed for a moment, then quickly suppressed his thoughts, reminding himself twice: don't aim too high, don't aim too high!
Then he earnestly began to study the Inverse Spiritual Array.
Mo Hua first memorized the array patterns, then, after midnight, he closed his eyes to rest.
His consciousness sank into his sea of consciousness as he practiced array formations on the Dao Stele.
The Inverse Spiritual Array that Mr. Zhuang gave Mo Hua only had nine and a half array patterns.
Mo Hua was only able to draw a little over nine patterns before his consciousness was exhausted, and he couldn't continue drawing.
Mo Hua wiped away the array patterns, retraced his consciousness, and furrowed his brows in contemplation.
Although the Inverse Spiritual Array had nine and a half array patterns, the amount of consciousness it consumed was indeed much greater than that of ordinary nine-pattern array formations.
Nine patterns were the limit, and beyond that, there was an immeasurable gap in consciousness.
Mo Hua sighed.
But this was already within his expectations. As Mr. Zhuang said, with his current consciousness, he couldn't draw the Inverse Spiritual Array.
Mo Hua's goal was still to use practicing the Inverse Spiritual Array to hone his sea of consciousness and strengthen his consciousness.
Whether he could learn the array formation was secondary.
As long as his consciousness was strong enough, Mo Hua had the capital to break through the Foundation Establishment stage. And as long as his consciousness was strong enough, with more practice, there would be no array formation he couldn't learn.
If he couldn't learn, he would practice more. Practice dozens of times, hundreds of times, or even thousands of times, and he would eventually learn it.
Mo Hua practiced like this all night, becoming familiar with the Inverse Spiritual Array and strengthening his consciousness. Although it wasn't much, Mo Hua was already quite satisfied.
Ordinary first-grade array formations were not difficult for Mo Hua to learn now, and they provided minimal exercise for his consciousness.
For complex formations, although his consciousness was strong enough, there were many low-level array patterns involved in the array core, making it time-consuming and less efficient to draw. His comprehension of the array patterns was also not deep enough.
Comparatively, the Inverse Spiritual Array provided sufficient exercise for his consciousness.
Now, after practicing the Inverse Spiritual Array, the increase in consciousness overnight was greater than that from practicing for two nights before.
After practicing array formations all night, although his consciousness was still full, he felt somewhat tired.
Mo Hua cleared his mind and rested for a while, and then dawned.
The sunrise marked the beginning of a new day.
Mo Hua practiced as usual for a while, and then looked out the window at the rising sun and the dawn filling the sky, feeling content.
Afterwards, as long as he meditated on the Inverse Spiritual Array, learned the complex formations, and practiced solving arrays, his consciousness would gradually increase along with his spiritual power, and eventually the day of Foundation Establishment would come.
Condensing spiritual power, doubling consciousness, laying the foundation of the Great Dao.
As long as he could establish a Foundation, it would be considered a big step forward on the path of cultivation.
In order to establish a Foundation, Mo Hua began to refine his consciousness, but this was not something that could be achieved overnight.
In addition to this, Mo Hua had one more thing to do, which was to enter the inner mountain.
He was already familiar with the outer mountain, had mapped it out, collected herbs, ores, and spices, and even killed monsters—although it was done with the help of arrays.
Going back to the outer mountain was no longer meaningful.
At the same time, Mo Hua also wanted the blood of late-stage first-grade monsters.
Most monsters in the outer mountain were in the middle stage of the first grade. Using their blood to mix with Spiritual Ink to draw first-grade arrays would weaken the effectiveness of the formations.
The inner mountain was different. Most monsters there were in the late stage of the first grade, with thick blood and better quality. Drawing arrays with their blood would result in stronger formations.
The quality of Spiritual Ink affected the effectiveness of the formations.
Although Mo Hua had not yet established his grade, he was already a first-grade array master. In terms of array formation proficiency alone, he was close to the peak of a first-grade array master.
In the short term, Mo Hua's array formations would not see significant improvements. Therefore, he could only enhance the power and effects of the formations by improving the quality of Spiritual Ink.
Mo Hua went to find Mo Shan and said he wanted to enter the inner mountain.
Mo Hua, who had reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, was now a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, and he had initially qualified to enter the inner mountain.
But Mo Shan naturally disagreed.
The inner mountain was even more dangerous, with more ferocious monsters and not just beasts, but also other cultivators with unknown identities and intentions.
The terrain was treacherous, the beasts were ferocious, but the most dangerous thing was human nature.
"Father, my body technique has improved, I can protect myself," Mo Hua said.
Since his breakthrough in cultivation, his consciousness and spiritual power had increased, and the effects of the Heavenly Expansion Technique had also been enhanced.
Relying on his consciousness to control spiritual power, and then using spiritual power to manipulate his body, he naturally elevated his body technique to a higher level with the Flowing Water Steps.
Mo Shan was slightly surprised, thought for a moment, and said, "Then let's spar again. I'll try to catch you, and you use your body technique to evade. If you can dodge me, I'll allow you to enter the inner mountain."
Mo Hua nodded, "Okay!"
In the afternoon, the father and son sparred in the courtyard for an hour.
Mo Shan was already at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and with the recent abundance of spiritual stones, coupled with his diligent cultivation, his cultivation had almost reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refinement.
His body technique was learned from hunting monsters year-round, focusing on simplicity and practicality, with clean and sharp movements.
Even so, Mo Shan found that he couldn't catch Mo Hua now. It was even difficult to perceive Mo Hua's position.
Mo Hua's consciousness was too strong. The stronger the consciousness, the more concealed it became, and the harder it was to perceive.
Trying to catch Mo Hua's figure with the eyes was easily deceived by the unpredictable Flowing Water Steps.
The only method Mo Shan could think of was to tire Mo Hua out, waiting for his spiritual power to be exhausted and his movements sluggish, then relying on his familiarity with his son's aura to catch him by intuition.
This was the only way Mo Shan could exploit Mo Hua's vulnerability.
Rather than calling it a method, it was more like "bloodline suppression"...
After an hour of sparring, Mo Shan could only catch Mo Hua twice using this method. The rest of the time, he couldn't even touch the hem of Mo Hua's clothes.
Mo Shan finally concluded that unless a Foundation Establishment cultivator intervened, an ordinary ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator would have no way to deal with Mo Hua.
Unless Mo Hua exhausted his spiritual power and couldn't perform his body technique.
But his son was very clever. If his spiritual power was depleted and he sensed danger, he would definitely slip away early.
Unrivaled body technique under Foundation Establishment...
Mo Shan was both shocked and relieved. He sighed and agreed to let Mo Hua enter the inner mountain.
(End of the Chapter)