Immortality Through Array Formations

"Capitalist Lu" was filled with vile deeds, chose a fine son-in-law, appointed a good Family Head, and even after his own death, he couldn't rest in peace and was turned into a Zombie.

It could be said that he reaped what he sowed, thoroughly deserving it...

Mo Hua thought to himself in silence.

After Lu Chengyun finished cursing the Lu Family Old Ancestor, he sat aside to meditate and regulate his breath.

With no way to sneak out unnoticed, Mo Hua had no choice but to hide behind the altar, waiting patiently for Lu Chengyun to leave so he could seize the opportunity to slip away secretly.

However, Lu Chengyun meditated for quite a long time, and his Divine Sense still had not fully recovered...

Mo Hua was getting anxious on his behalf.

"Is Divine Sense recovery really that slow?"

A brief period of meditation would suffice for me, yet this Lu Chengyun, like a turtle in meditation, has been sitting for half an eternity and his Divine Sense has hardly recovered at all—this is excessively slow...

Could it be an issue with the Meditation Technique?

Mo Hua frowned and pondered further.

I learned the Meditation Technique from Mr. Zhuang; meditating in a serene state, hence my Divine Sense recovers quickly.

Lu Chengyun does not practice meditation, harbors too many schemes, and even has a filthy mind, so is that why his Divine Sense recovers so slowly?

Is it just Lu Chengyun that is this slow, or is it that all Formation Masters take this long to recover their Divine Sense?

This was a question Mo Hua had not really compared the answers to before.

"It seems the Meditation Technique taught by my master is indeed a fine thing..."

Gratitude towards Mr. Zhuang arose in Mo Hua's heart once more.

After a while more of breath regulation, Lu Chengyun finally opened his eyes, appearing somewhat restless and agitated.

Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

Yet, his Divine Sense had only recovered by a small fraction.

Mo Hua was puzzled.

"What is Lu Chengyun trying to do?"

How could he work on Formation Painting with his Divine Sense not fully recovered?

To Mo Hua's surprise, Lu Chengyun did not proceed with Formation Painting but rather took out a scroll from his Storage Bag.

The scroll was somewhat wrinkled, bore creases, and carried footprints that had not been fully wiped away.

Mo Hua recognized it instantly.

Because the footprints on it were from his own stepping.

It was Zhang Quan's Ancestral Master Picture!

It was a depiction of a Zombie Image, and also a Contemplation Map!

The scroll was indeed in the hands of Lu Chengyun!

Zhang Quan, that unfilial wretch who "forgot his ancestry," actually gave away his ancestral portrait, causing me all this trouble in search.

Mo Hua inwardly criticized, then stealthily speculated.

Zhang Quan treasured this Ancestral Master Picture like a precious gem and was probably reluctant to part with it, agreeing only to lend it.

There must be some sort of deal between him and Lu Chengyun.

And in this deal, Zhang Quan definitely profited handsomely, otherwise, he certainly would not have lent out the painting.

This is a Contemplation Map, which can strengthen Divine Sense.

Zhang Quan may not be aware of its use, but Lu Chengyun most definitely is.

Mo Hua then grew stunned.

The purpose of a Contemplation Map is to strengthen Divine Sense...

But how does it strengthen one's Divine Sense?

I "ate" it directly because if I didn't "eat," I would be "eaten"...

But other Cultivators, lacking a Taoist Stele in their Sea of Consciousness and not versed in Divine Thought Slaughter, should be incapable of "eating" it.

If they can't "eat," then what should they do?

Would they not be "eaten"?

Or perhaps, what is the orthodox method of using a Contemplation Map?

How do other Cultivators use the Contemplation Map to augment their Divine Sense?

...

Mo Hua was filled with confusion for a moment, and then he cautiously peeked out his head to observe Lu Chengyun, wanting to see exactly how he would proceed, to learn from it.

Outside the altar, within the Formation of Ten Thousand Corpses.

Lu Chengyun first took out an Incense Burner and placed three sticks of incense on it.

Afterward, with all due respect, he opened up the Zhang Family's Ancestral Master Picture, clasped his hands in prayer, bowed, then suspended the painting. Amid the drifting incense smoke, he sat cross-legged, maintaining a proper posture, gazed at the image, let his soul wander into nothingness, and quietly contemplated.

The aura of the man and the painting gradually merged into one.

Lu Chengyun seemed to have fallen into a profound, indescribable state of gradual enlightenment.

His Divine Sense, too, was gradually nourished, slowly restored, and subtly increased.

"Strange..."

Mo Hua furrowed his brows.

This painting seemed genuinely capable of contemplation, and indeed, after contemplation, it truly nourished Divine Sense.

This was different from my experience...

Mo Hua recalled.

The first time I saw the Landscape Taoist Child Painting, the Taoist Child turned into a little demon, burrowed into my Sea of Consciousness, wanting to devour me.

The second time, upon seeing the Zhang Family Ancestral Master Picture, the Ancestral Master turned into a Zombie, lunged into my Heavenly Court, again with the intention to devour me...

There was no chance for me to contemplate and comprehend...

Why is that?

Why can Lu Chengyun respectfully burn incense, utilize the Contemplation Map, and enhance his Divine Sense properly?

Yet my only choices are to "eat" or be "eaten"?

There's another question:

This Lu Chengyun, when he contemplated the Contemplation Map, did he not realize that these seemingly virtuous ancestors of the Zhang Family were actually zombies?

He saw it, but he didn't care.

Or is it because he simply didn't see through them, so he didn't know at all?

In his eyes, is this just a dignified and solemn picture of the Ancestral Master teaching his disciples?

Something is quite odd...

Mo Hua pondered carefully:

The evil thoughts in the Contemplation Map, wanting to "eat" oneself but not Lu Chengyun...

Is it because I saw through their true nature?

Or is it because my innate Divine Sense is powerful, a great supplement for them?

Or is it simply because they bully the weak and fear the strong, seeing that I am young and wanting to "eat" me?Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Mo Hua furrowed his brow, feeling that all three reasons might be possible...

Seeing through their true nature, being a great supplement for Divine Sense, and being easy to bully.

If I were those malevolent spirits, I would also choose a child like myself to "eat"...

The good are bullied by "ghosts".

Mo Hua sighed helplessly.

...

Meanwhile, Lu Chengyun, absorbed in contemplation of the Contemplation Map, seemed oblivious to the outside world.

Mo Hua was then considering whether to slip away now or later.

But as he thought about it, he hesitated again.

Why run when the Contemplation Map is right in front of him?

Lu Chengyun keeps it close to his body.

If I don't try to snatch it now, who knows how long I'll have to wait for another chance?

But how to snatch it?

Force won't work.

I'm no match for Lu Chengyun.

Stealing… probably won't succeed either.

Lu Chengyun is neither a fool nor a piece of wood.

My Concealment Technique may fool him, but to steal something up close would be to not see him as a person.

"What to do?"

Mo Hua thought hard but couldn't come up with a good plan, ultimately giving up in resignation.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in Mo Hua.

Can't snatch, can't steal... but can "steal" a taste!

The map is in Lu Chengyun's hands and I can't take it back for the time being, but skimming off some interest, catching a few zombies for a feast, should be no problem.

Mo Hua peeked out his head stealthily again.

Where he was, blocked by Lu Chengyun, he couldn't see the whole of the Contemplation Map, only a part of it.

But Mo Hua was very familiar with the map.

Even with just this part, he could roughly infer the scene depicted in the Contemplation Map.

Lofty halls, dignified and solemn.

The Ancestral Master's teachings resonating, with an aura of immortality pervading.

The disciples following his teachings, passing them on, mouth to mouth.

Meanwhile, Lu Chengyun was focused, as if he had comprehended the profoundness from these teachings and felt the Great Dao, subtly and intuitively enhancing his Divine Sense.

But Mo Hua knew better.

This was not any "resonating teachings", but rather some hollow nonsense.

Casual words like "Dao," "fate," "truth"...

Seemingly mystical, but actually empty and meaningless, absolutely nothing at all.

Lu Chengyun was merely indulging in self-intoxication.

However, Mo Hua couldn't care less about him. The more Lu Chengyun was immersed in it, the better. Hopefully he would be brainwashed by the zombie ancestors of the Zhang Family and never come out—that would be for the best.

Mo Hua busied himself with his own matters.

His gaze swept quickly over the Contemplation Map, deciding whom to choose, and finally set his eyes on an Elder of the Zhang Family.

This Elder, sitting in a corner, while the rest were reverently echoing the teachings of the Ancestral Master, was somewhat distracted, mumbling something inattentively, just going through the motions.

Even without it, no one would notice.

"It's you!"

Mo Hua stared intently at it.

The Elder, mumbling a scripture, suddenly paused, as if sensing something, and turned its head slowly. In its murky eyes, it saw Mo Hua.

As Mo Hua had predicted, changes began to unfold.

Under Mo Hua's gaze, the Elder started to reveal its true form.

Mo Hua's eyes, clear and bright like daylight, scorched the Elder's visage, causing its skin to peel off gradually, revealing the true face of a zombie.

The zombie Elder was both angry and pleased.

Angry that an impudent brat dared to pry into its true appearance.

Pleased that this brat's Divine Sense was profound, surely a delicious treat!

A Qi Refinement child with a youthful face, was it not at its mercy to slaughter?

With drooling anticipation and an insatiable hunger, the zombie Elder leapt up, jumping out from the picture and into Mo Hua's Sea of Consciousness.

It rejoiced, thinking a banquet of Divine Sense awaited.

But little did it know that it was leaping into an abyss from which there was no return...