The Quest for Immortality - Chapter 1110 (Patreon)

Chapter 1110: The Grand Array Blueprint

Mo Hua lay in the courtyard of his childhood home, beneath the shade of the great locust tree, gazing up at the boundless sky that seemed to hold some profound Dao running without cease. A decision slowly settled in his heart.

He knew he could not stay in Immortal-Passage City forever.

Immortal-Passage City was only second-grade. If he wished to form a core, he would have to leave this patch of heaven and earth to seek broader opportunities.

But he could not simply up and go. That would go against his original intent—against his Dao heart.

It was true that many grassroots loose cultivators had limited horizons, shallow understanding, benighted temperaments, and lagging inheritances.

Yet that had more to do with impoverished cultivation resources, a closed cultivation environment, and the scarcity of proper lineages.

It did not mean they were born “benighted.”

A cultivator’s spiritual root, physique, bloodline, birth—these may differ from the moment of arrival.

But the human heart itself is born equal. It is not bound by origin or aptitude. There is no innate hierarchy of high and low, noble and base, better and worse.

In this, loose cultivators from small places are no different from the prodigies of great clans and great sects.

To comprehend Heaven’s Dao, to cultivate one’s own Dao, and to pass the Dao to all living beings, thus carrying forward the Dao heart—

That is what those who cultivate ought to do.

Mo Hua returned to the little study, sat at the desk where he had learned arrays as a child, spread paper, unrolled jade slips, and began in earnest to plan array diagrams.

At the same time, he sorted through the vast trove of inheritances and classics he had gathered along his travels, organizing and compiling them one by one.

It was a substantial undertaking.

But Mo Hua’s divine sense was exceptional, his mind keen, and he was a master arrayist versed in uncanny deduction. For him, planning arrays, classifying techniques and Dao methods, and discriminating and compiling the canons came swiftly.

Working day and night, exhausting every thought, ten days later Mo Hua had largely completed the planning and collation.

He summoned Elder Yu and handed over a stack of books and jade slips.

Elder Yu took them, glanced through, and his expression trembled. “This is…”

Mo Hua said, “Inside are planning maps for Immortal-Passage City, notes on cultivation, lineages of techniques and Dao methods, along with brief methods for alchemy, artifact forging, and talisman crafting, as well as more advanced essentials of array Dao…”

It was a complete cultivation inheritance.

It was also the embryonic orthodoxy he had labored to assemble over ten years of seeking the Dao in the Qianxue province domain, learned from the Great Void Sect.

The Great Void Sect had strict rules on internal inheritances: disciples were forbidden to transmit them outward.

But those rules generally applied only to superior techniques, high Dao methods, certain secret arts, and untouchable forbidden laws.

For ordinary inheritances, the Great Void Sect did not regulate too strictly.

In the eyes of great families and major sects, “ordinary” inheritances were neither rare nor worth much attention.

But that “ordinary” was relative to great clans and sects.

For grassroots loose cultivators, even a common inheritance from a fifth-grade great province domain was a top-tier true transmission beyond their life’s reach.

Once things from a great province domain fell to the grassroots, they would inevitably draw a storm of bloodshed.

Thus, passing these “ordinary” Great Void inheritances to inheritance-starved Immortal-Passage City could not be better.

This was Mo Hua’s kindness—and could be counted as the Great Void Sect’s merit.

Gentle Mr. Xun had devoted himself to teaching the Dao. If he knew of this, he would likely be gratified.

Mo Hua began introducing things to Elder Yu, one by one:

“This is Records of Cultivation. I compiled what I learned, heard, and saw at the Great Void Sect—the history and sights of the cultivation world.”

“With this, cultivators of Immortal-Passage City can know the vastness of the cultivation realm, the immensity of the Nine Provinces, and the inexhaustibility of the Dao. In this world, the Grand Dao is manifold and the mortal world myriad, rotating without end. Knowing this broadens horizons and understanding, fosters a heart that embraces heaven and earth, and sets lofty aspirations…”

“Next are lineages of techniques and Dao methods. Any loose cultivator of Immortal-Passage City who reaches a certain age may cultivate them free of charge…”

Mo Hua then picked up a thin booklet.

“And here is a Dao Heart Primer, which children can recite, so they seek the Dao with clear hearts from a young age and awaken their Dao hearts.”

Elder Yu received the slender booklet with solemn care. Opening the title page, he saw graceful, profound characters:

“The root of cultivation lies in clarifying the heart.”

“If the heart is not clear, the Dao does not appear.”

“If the Dao heart does not appear, stray thoughts and desires arise; fame and profit confuse the mind; aspirations are worn down; one lingers over victory and defeat, fleeting honor and disgrace, and so loses one’s will toward the Dao, idling away a lifetime…”

Elder Yu stared at those few lines, dazed.

These words might be called “enlightenment,” yet children would likely not understand them.

Only after living over a century, after drifting through vast years and looking back with a sigh, could one feel them in one’s bones.

“And there is one more most important thing…”

Mo Hua spoke, then unfurled before Elder Yu a grand, vast array plan: roads crisscrossing, mother city encircled by sub-cities.

Elder Yu took a single glance, and his expression shook. He lifted his head to look at Mo Hua, incredulous. “This is…”

“This is an all-new…” A sharp gleam and a faint ambition flashed in Mo Hua’s eyes as he enunciated:

“Immortal-Passage City Grand Array Diagram.”

Elder Yu’s whole body shivered; gooseflesh rose on his arms.

Immortal-Passage City… a grand array diagram?!

“You mean to build a grand array within Immortal-Passage City?” Elder Yu’s voice trembled.

Mo Hua nodded. “Yes. And unlike the first-grade Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Array, this will be an attack-and-defense, second-grade City-Guarding Grand Array integrated with the immortal city itself.”

Elder Yu was beside himself with excitement, yet still found it hard to believe. “Can Immortal-Passage City… truly build a second-grade grand array?”

Mo Hua shook his head. “Not yet.”

Elder Yu froze, looking at Mo Hua with a complicated expression.

Mo Hua explained, “Not yet. A second-grade grand array is a high grade and massive in scale. Immortal-Passage City’s current foundations are far from sufficient. Even if we poured in the strength of the entire city, we could not build a second-grade grand array.”

In a second-grade province domain, building a battle-cap of a second-grade grand array was nothing like building a first-grade one.

The human and material costs were not on the same order.

What’s more, cultivators in Immortal-Passage City who could actually reach Foundation Establishment were still very few.

That meant, in terms of second-grade cultivation resources, architectural structures, array construction, and manpower, they faced extreme scarcity.

Objectively, Immortal-Passage City did not yet have the depth to build a second-grade grand array.

But not having it now did not mean they would never have it.

Pointing at the array plan, Mo Hua said to Elder Yu, “A second-grade grand array is a colossal project—not the work of a day or a night.”

“Elder Yu, what you need to do first is expand Immortal-Passage City.”

“Expand?” Elder Yu was slightly taken aback.

“Mhm,” Mo Hua nodded. “Take Immortal-Passage City as the mother city and expand outward with sub-cities…”

“Immortal-Passage City is not what it once was. It’s growing fast; industries are thriving. Many loose cultivators around us wish to pledge themselves to Immortal-Passage City and settle here to cultivate.”

“But our territory is limited. It simply cannot hold so many loose cultivators.”

“In that case, we build sub-cities. With Immortal-Passage City at the core radiating outward, we take all these loose cultivators in, enabling Immortal-Passage City to grow further.”

“The more loose cultivators we have, the greater our strength, and the more who can break through to Foundation Establishment.”

“The more people, the more prosperous the industries; the more prosperous Immortal-Passage City becomes.”

“At the same time, with this expansion we can plan in advance and lay down the foundations for the future second-grade grand array.”

“Developing like this, once the time is ripe and the mother city and its sub-cities interlock and merge, they will form a vast second-grade immortal city.”

“Then, with Foundation Establishment cultivators as numerous as clouds, we will have ample manpower.”

“With flourishing industries and abundant spirit stones, we will have ample material resources.”

“With the array’s groundwork ready, and with manpower and materials sufficient—when all is in place—we can begin constructing the true second-grade Immortal-Passage Grand Array.”

Mo Hua’s tone was rigorous and meticulous, yet carried an unspoken largeness of spirit.

In Elder Yu’s mind, a majestic blueprint slowly unfurled.

A towering giant of an immortal city stood upon Great Black Mountain like a colossal being.

The light of a grand array shone dazzlingly, covering heaven and earth.

The vision made this elder—once a poor loose cultivator of Immortal-Passage City who had dedicated his life to the welfare of such folk—feel his blood boil.

Mo Hua looked deeply at Elder Yu and said slowly:

“But this idea is vast. From the moment you begin, it may take several generations of cultivators and hundreds of years of continual effort and growth to accumulate enough foundation to truly build this grand array and make Immortal-Passage City the strongest immortal city at the pinnacle of a second-grade province domain.”

Elder Yu was shaken, then his gaze firmed, and he said in a deep voice:

“Since ancient times, great undertakings have never been achieved in a single morning. If we must exhaust ourselves unto death, then let it begin with these old bones of mine.”

“Even if my bones must be pulled out and used as kindling, burned to ash, I will see this grand array built.”

Mo Hua was moved. “Elder Yu…”

But Elder Yu looked at Mo Hua with gratitude and relief.

“I thought my life would end just so. I never imagined that with half my body in the grave, I would still have a great work yet to do. Good… good…”

With a sigh and a solemn air, Elder Yu said, “Child, you truly are the greatest fortune Heaven has bestowed upon Immortal-Passage City…”

Mo Hua said, “Elder Yu, you flatter me. I can only provide the diagram. How to build it in truth will still rely on everyone in Immortal-Passage City working with one heart.”

Elder Yu started, then let out a breath—half astonishment, half gratitude. He bowed to Mo Hua.

“I will arrange it at once and set things in motion.”

He carefully put away the books, jade slips, and array diagram inheritances. It was as if he carried a thousand-jin burden on his shoulders, yet his spirit seemed twenty years younger. Eyes bright, he strode away.

…

After Elder Yu left, Mo Hua fell into thought.

Long ago, when he first led the construction of the first-grade Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Array, he understood a truth.

No matter how great his array skills, he was still just one person.

He could vow to save all living beings, but in the end, he could not save everyone.

The only ones who can truly save the people are the people themselves.

So it would be with Immortal-Passage City.

He could produce a grand array diagram, but to build it would still require every cultivator of Immortal-Passage City to share one heart, to strive and labor without cease.

In essence, they would be saving themselves.

And there was something else Mo Hua could not set aside.

He looked up at the sky, stirred in his heart, his brows growing solemn.

Since the blood sacrifice in Qianzhou and the revival of a wicked god, he had often sensed that this world was veiled in an invisible tinge of blood. Many ancient, unknowable dangers were stirring in the dark.

It seemed a great calamity was about to descend upon heaven and earth…

Once calamity struck, the cultivation world would surely fall into chaos.

He himself would be all right—his sect would shelter him. But who would protect his parents, and the neighbors and friends of Immortal-Passage City?

At the very least, his strength alone was limited.

If so, then plan before the storm; set a hundred-year strategy; help Immortal-Passage City build a second-grade grand array so they could protect themselves.

In a second-grade province domain, Foundation Establishment is the cap. If they could build a second-grade grand array, they would nearly stand at the province’s pinnacle, unassailable.

Even if many demonic-path Golden Core experts—or even Ascension old devils—came, under Heaven’s restrictions they could not break such a second-grade grand array.

Unless they were willing to sacrifice themselves, braving tribulation lightning to force the assault with their very lives.

Mo Hua even considered that if heaven and earth truly changed, the cultivation world descended into chaos, war raged, blood flowed, and killing never ceased…

Then a second-grade grand array within a second-grade province might become an exceedingly safe “pure land.”

With it as a stronghold, there would be much else to accomplish.

This, too, was inspiration drawn from Mr. Tu’s Wild Heaven Blood Sacrificial Array.

Through massive arrays linking low-grade small provinces into a web, one could form a counter-encirclement to oppose great provinces.

In a sense, it was the strategy of gathering the many weak to face the few strong.

Only, Mr. Tu did this to blood-sacrifice the living.

Mo Hua, having learned, would simply invert it and use it for good.

Having finished these arrangements, Mo Hua invited Master Luo to visit.

Master Luo was an arrayist with many connections and a wide circle—at least around Immortal-Passage City, he was well connected.

Master Luo hurried over and, after taking a seat and a sip of tea, looked puzzled. He did not know why this “honored gentleman,” busy as he was, had called him over.

Mo Hua did not waste words and spoke his intent plainly: “Master Luo, I want to hold a Dao Debate.”

“A Dao Debate?” Master Luo blinked.

Mo Hua nodded. “We’ll open a Dao Debate and expound the great Dao methods. Every year afterward we’ll hold one, in four categories—Arrays, Alchemy, Artifact Forging, and Talismans—so practitioners of different trades can lecture, exchange, and make progress together.”

This Dao Debate drew on the Qianxue Dao Debate Conference for reference.

Of course, it was a “simple” version, and not for vying for victory—it was truly for “debating the Dao,” for communication and friendly sparring.

“For the first Dao Debate, I’ll lecture on arrays,” Mo Hua said.

Master Luo started, then broke into delighted color.

He had long wanted to ask whether he might dare invite Mo Hua to lecture on arrays for them—these first-grade arrayists of Immortal-Passage City.

But Mo Hua’s status was now too high, and such an honored person had many affairs; he truly found it hard to ask.

Now that Mo Hua himself proposed lecturing, Master Luo was overjoyed and hurriedly said:

“Good, good! Rest assured, Young Master Mo—I will see to all preparations.”

“When the time comes, please, Young Master Mo, open the dais and speak on the Dao, to steer us out of confusion.”

Mo Hua cupped his hands. “You are too polite, Master Luo. We will learn from each other.”

Master Luo’s scalp tingled slightly. In his heart he thought: our little tricks hardly deserve to be on the same stage as you…

Ten years ago, Mo Hua’s array level already far outstripped that of the arrayists of Immortal-Passage City.

Now, after ten more years and a stint of cultivation in a great sect, who knew how much deeper Mo Hua’s attainments in array Dao had grown?

Yet Master Luo’s curiosity was sincere—he truly wanted to know just how profound Mo Hua’s arrays had become after ten years of study.

Afterward, Master Luo spread the word: in a month, Young Master Mo of Immortal-Passage City would open the dais to debate the Dao and lecture on arrays.

That word sent a furor through nearby immortal cities and the powers of various sects.

An ocean of arrayists converged upon Immortal-Passage City.

Many, even if a thousand li away, spurred their horses on to hurry to Immortal-Passage City the moment they heard.

Even some venerable second-grade elder arrayists who rarely traveled broke custom to cross mountains and rivers for Immortal-Passage City.

The city, lively to begin with, suddenly grew even more bustling.

Almost every arrayist wished to behold the demeanor of this “Young Master Mo” and hear his discourse on arrays.

For a time, Immortal-Passage City became the gathering place of nearly all arrayists in the Great Black Mountain province domain, beyond doubt a holy ground of array Dao.

A month later, amid the clamor, the Dao Debate was held.

Within a newly built, grand Dao venue in Immortal-Passage City—

Mo Hua sat at the highest seat.

Below, packed tight, sat arrayists of Immortal-Passage City and those who had come from afar.

About half of these arrayists were white-haired; among the other half, middle-aged cultivators were the majority. A few looked youthful, but the vicissitudes in their brows and eyes showed they were only well maintained—their cultivation ages were far from young.

By comparison, Mo Hua’s fair complexion and clear-water eyes made his youth almost outrageous.

The arrayists from other places looked at Mo Hua’s face and were shaken, their thoughts varied.

Mo Hua met the gaze of so many arrayists with composure.

In the Qianxue province domain he had experienced far grander occasions. Thus, this moment of a thousand eyes upon him was like a breeze across the face—nothing much.

He steadied his mood and prepared to begin—then suddenly saw Instructor Yan seated below, posture straight, focused and intent, ready to listen to his lecture.

Mo Hua rose at once and bowed respectfully.

“Instructor Yan.”

Instructor Yan had enlightened him in the way of arrays. By rights, he was half a “teacher” to Mo Hua, and Mo Hua held him in sincere regard.

Now he sat above and Instructor Yan below; naturally, Mo Hua felt ill at ease.

Instructor Yan looked at him and said mildly: “In learning there is no first or last; the accomplished is the teacher.”

“In the past, my knowledge exceeded yours, so I taught you. Now your knowledge exceeds mine; of course you should teach me.”

“This, too, is the ‘inheritance’ between arrayists…”

Mo Hua started, then smiled gently and bowed again. “Yes.”

He did not decline further, took the upper seat, and began with a clear statement:

“Today, I will expound the essence of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams type arrays. The Five Elements engender and restrain; the Eight Trigrams harmonize. The two fit together, mutually engendering and growing, mutually restraining and overcoming. Within them the array pivots flow with boundless subtlety, containing myriad pattern transformations—from first-grade up to second-grade high tier, from nine patterns at first grade to nineteen patterns at second grade—all encompassed…”

At these words, a roar of astonishment erupted; the crowd was shaken.

Second-grade high tier—nineteen-pattern arrays!

This Young Master Mo, barely over twenty in cultivation age, was actually… a second-grade high-tier array master who had reached nineteen patterns!

Thank you for reading—this chapter’s sweeping ambition gave me chills to translate. If you’re enjoying the journey, please consider supporting on Patreon; even a small pledge keeps the project alive and lets me pour more time into Mo Hua’s path. Also, a quick rating or review on NovelUpdates helps new readers discover the story—your word of mouth means the world.

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