The entire field was silent, except for the chirping of crows and sparrows.

The elders of the four great sects felt a chill in their hearts. The seemingly inconspicuous little disciple sitting in the corner of the dojo suddenly exuded a terrifying aura. It was as if a monster was hidden within his slender body.

The cultivators on the sidelines still didn’t feel it deeply. But those who were competing on the same stage with Mo Hua, who had been meticulously painting from the sixteen-pattern stage until now, including the prodigies of the four great sects, all clearly felt an immense pressure.

Shen Jun Cai of the Qian Dao Sect, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator with a nineteen-pattern divine sense, was the most accomplished array formation prodigy among all the disciples of the Qian Dao Sect in this session. From a young age, he had been praised by his family for his genius in array formations and was considered by the old ancestor as a promising array master with unlimited potential. And he had proven it. Compared to the disciples of the Shen family, the surrounding great families, and even the geniuses from various places in the Nine Provinces upon arriving at the Qian Dao Sect, he was among the top few outstanding talents.

He only needed to prove it one more time. On the Dao Discussion Assembly, witnessed by thousands, he needed to win first place in the array discussion, thereby rewarding himself for so many years of effort in array formations, honing his unique talent, and taking his first step towards climbing the peak of the array dao. His future would undoubtedly be like a flood dragon transforming into a dragon, immeasurable.

He also knew his biggest opponents in his heart: Xiao Yi of the Tian Jian Sect, exceptionally gifted, from a sword forging family, with a nineteen-pattern divine sense, skilled in killing array formations, especially knife and sword-type killing arrays. Ao Li of the Long Ding Sect, with a nineteen-pattern divine sense, tall and robust, seemingly rough but actually an array master who relied on array formations for a living, skilled in firm armor-type defensive array formations for body cultivation combat. Duan Mu Xue of the Wan Xiao Sect, with a plain and elegant appearance and few words, had the strongest divine sense among the crowd, exceeding nineteen patterns, though not by much, but still a huge advantage, with deep insights into some profound and obscure array formations containing complex array principles.

These three were the stumbling blocks for him to seize the array dao championship. And Shen Jun Cai also knew clearly that if solely comparing killing arrays, defensive arrays, or difficult arrays, he was slightly weaker than the disciples of the other three sects. But his strength lay in having no shortcomings. His experience in array formations, the density of his divine sense, and the breadth of his knowledge all far surpassed his peers. Perhaps slightly inferior to disciples who were top in each aspect, but not by much. Therefore, overall, his array formation strength was like an iron plate wall, indestructible.

Furthermore, he was from the Shen family. The people of the Shen family emphasized calculation and had many schemes. Therefore, he had already simulated thousands of times in his heart how to seize the array dao first this time, planning and calculating very thoroughly. He could fully utilize the “three times error tolerance” to play to the extreme his solid array formation foundation and abundant array formation background. Combining the actual scores of the other three sects’ disciples with choices, targeted, abandoning some too difficult array formations, thereby conserving energy and focus, fully attacking those array formations with greater certainty. Not knowing some array formations wasn’t important, painting them wrong wasn’t important, as long as he controlled the error, learned to plan reasonably, and persisted to the end, it would be fine. As long as the disciples of the other three sects fell before him, then he would be the array dao first!

But now, everything was shattered. Because suddenly an unbelievably strong “enemy” had emerged. Shen Jun Cai, without turning back, could clearly perceive that ice-cold and powerful oppressive force. This oppressive force was not obvious at first, but from some point, it slowly fermented. When he realized it, it was already too late, and he himself, as if enveloped in a huge shadow, felt a chill down his back.

That disciple of the Tai Xu Sect sitting in the corner was not like a “person”, but like an array formation “monster”. He was only ice-cold, indifferent, without mixing any emotions, treating all equally, painting any array formations. Moreover, up to now, he had not missed a single array formation. At this time, calculating error tolerance was already meaningless. Calculating choices was also no longer possible. If he wanted to contend for first, he had to grit his teeth and completely paint all the following nineteen-pattern array formations. Not knowing them, he still had to paint them. Painting them wrong, he still had to paint them. Otherwise, there was only “defeat” on this path.

The immense pressure was like a great mountain pressing down. The prodigies of the four great sects were forced to go all out, fighting to the death, with no way to retreat. Not just Shen Jun Cai of the Qian Dao Sect. Xiao Yi of the Tian Jian Sect, Ao Li of the Long Ding Sect, Duan Mu Xue of the Wan Xiao Sect… these outstanding top array dao geniuses of the four great sects were all as if placed under a huge shadow at this time, their minds tense, their faces somewhat pale. Under the huge and strange pressure invisibly emitted by Mo Hua, the geniuses of the four sects didn’t even have leisure to think deeply, they could only put all their attention, all their divine sense, all their thoughts, entirely into the array formations. This was the confrontation between geniuses; slight carelessness would lead to elimination. But this was actually, again, a monster, oppressing other geniuses.

The faces of the elders of the four great sects were one by one ugly to the extreme. The situation had suddenly reversed, and by the time they realized it, it was already too late. Among the nineteen-pattern array formations, only two had been examined. Now, only the prodigies of the four great sects and that monster from the Tai Xu Sect remained in the field… and the situation seemed to be getting increasingly unfavorable…

At this time, outside the dojo, everyone was holding their breath, not daring to breathe loudly. The disciples of the Tai Xu Sect were both excited and nervous. They only realized at this time that their little senior brother was truly an existence who could compete with the most top array formation prodigies of the four great sects. And he was only in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

At the same time, an almost absurd thought floated in everyone’s minds. Little senior brother, he… wouldn’t still win, right? If he kept winning, wouldn’t it be… the array discussion first, the array dao championship? Since the establishment of the Tai Xu Sect, no disciple had ever obtained the honor of array dao first.

All the disciples of the Tai Xu Sect felt their heartbeats skip a beat, and their breathing slowed down. Murong Cai Yun even tightly bit her lips, her fingers clenched white. Elder Xun Zi You and Elder Xun Zi Xian both straightened their bodies. Other elders were even staring fixedly at the great dojo, not daring to breathe. Not to mention the ordinary disciples of the Tai Xu Sect, even these several hundred-year-old elders of the Tai Xu Sect, at this time, felt their hearts were almost about to jump out of their throats.

In the dojo, the examination of the nineteen-pattern array formations was still continuing. The proposed array formations were of various kinds, including killing arrays, trapping arrays, defensive arrays, and difficult arrays with profound array principles. The prodigies of the four great sects and Mo Hua, sitting in the corner, were all silently painting array formations. But the prodigies of the four great sects had unspeakable bitterness.

The cultivators outside the field fundamentally didn’t know how much pressure those sitting in the field, personally competing with this “monster” Mo Hua on the same stage, had to bear. It was like drowning, suffocating. Array formations that could be abandoned originally could no longer be abandoned. Error tolerance that could be retained would no longer exist. No matter what array formations, killing arrays or trapping arrays, familiar or unfamiliar, they all had to go all out to paint them. And, they could not be wrong…

While Mo Hua was like a reef in the giant waves, unmoving, steadily terrifying. He had completely simulated the “array formation great examination” several times under the guidance of Old Mister Xun before then. Because he was prepared in advance, he had seized the bit by bit time during the great competition intervals from the beginning to recover his consumed divine sense. So even examining until now, his divine sense was still very abundant.

He was originally at ease painting the nineteen-pattern array formations. In these days, Old Mister Xun had personally guided him, laying an incomparably solid foundation in the array dao for him. He had also practiced day and night, constantly refining this foundation to be unbreakable. This was a deep background that ordinary people could almost not imagine. Such a deep background was sufficient to cope with the array formation great examination involving the five elements and eight trigrams, killing, trapping, and creation, all kinds of array formation questions in various forms. One force breaks ten thousand laws.

He fundamentally didn’t need to spend thoughts, didn’t need to calculate, didn’t need to choose, didn’t need to avoid, he only needed to paint array formations. If there were questions, he would examine them. If there were array formations, he would paint them. Paint all the array formations, and he would be the array dao first!

The great competition was still proceeding. Mo Hua was still painting, from sixteen patterns to nineteen patterns. Until now, he had not missed a single array formation, not even a single stroke of an array pattern had a trace of error. All the nineteen-pattern array formations, no matter how difficult, he welcomed them all. And his divine sense still seemed ample.

The prodigies of the four great sects went from shock to facing it squarely, from facing it squarely to a chilling heart, from a chilling heart to being terrified. Until now, even a terrifying horror was born in their hearts, to the point of some despair. This young age, younger than them by a session, was the “monster” of the Tai Xu Sect… No matter what array formation, he could paint it. No matter what he painted, he would not be wrong. Not miss a single array formation, not err a single stroke of an array pattern! And painting until now, his divine sense was still abundant, profound as the sea, as if endless, immeasurable.

Just like an unbeatable terrifying strong enemy. An unclimbable absolute peak. And this peak towered into the clouds. They couldn’t even figure out exactly how high this mountain was. In their hearts, the pride of a heaven’s chosen son that accompanied them from youth was shattering bit by bit. Their dao hearts were collapsing bit by bit. They were even gradually covered with a layer of terrifying shadow that was hard to dispel.

Shen Jun Cai of the Qian Dao Sect’s face was as white as paper. Xiao Yi of the Tian Jian Sect also lost all his composure, the hand holding the array pen uncontrollably trembling. Ao Li of the Long Ding Sect’s forehead was pouring with cold sweat, his head aching to split. Duan Mu Xue of the Wan Xiao Sect’s face was also like white frost, his expression despair.

Under this terrifying extreme pressure, the Long Ding Sect disciple was the first to fall. He painted three wrong array formations, accumulating three, and was out. The Tian Jian Sect disciple was second. The nineteen-pattern Cloud Mountain Transforming Rain Array was somewhat obscure, he couldn’t paint it, and he truly had no confidence to persist. Duan Mu Xue of the Wan Xiao Sect was the third to fall. While Shen Jun Cai of the Qian Dao Sect persisted to the end. But only that. His divine sense was almost exhausted, with no more strength to continue painting.

Before falling, he mustered the courage, turned his head, and looked at Mo Hua sitting in the corner. Mo Hua’s face was very calm. Moreover, remembering Old Mister Xun’s instructions, he restrained his emotions and appeared more composed, so with a straight face, his gaze was indifferent, a face of indifference. This, in Shen Jun Cai’s eyes, was truly like an array formation “monster” that was neither sad nor happy, without gain or loss, treating all living beings as insignificant. The shadow in Shen Jun Cai’s heart gained a real image. He trembled, slowly put down the pen in his hand, and sighed. “I… lost.”

Thus, the array formation prodigies of the four great sects all fell. The entire great dojo was left with only Mo Hua. Around the field, there was first a deathly silence, then like boiling oil with fire, human voices instantly boiled to the extreme, the entire Dao Discussion Mountain also seemed like a mountain collapse and sea roar, thoroughly noisy.

“Ended?”

“Damn it, what did I see today?”

“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, array discussion first?”

“Overwhelming the four great sects?!”

“Is this f***ing absurd?”

“In the Qian Xue State Boundary, probably unprecedented…”

“I seem, just like that unknowingly, suddenly, witnessed the history of the entire Qian Xue State Boundary?”

“This humble monk’s life is worth it…”

The entire Dao Discussion Mountain was thoroughly boiling. The several elders of the four great sects, however, were like clay sculptures and stone statues, sitting stiffly on their chairs, not moving, only their hands, uncontrollably trembling. The atmosphere outside the field was like fire, but their hearts were like the deep winter’s ninth month, a piece of ice cold.

The disciples of the Tai Xu Sect were even more unbelievable at this time. “Really… won?”

“Our Tai Xu Sect… array discussion first?”

“Our little senior brother… is the array dao championship?”

“Our that, who loves to eat chicken legs, mid-stage Foundation Establishment little senior brother, is the entire Qian Xue State Boundary, standing above all array formation geniuses, unique, array dao championship?!”

“I’m not dreaming, right?”

“Someone come hit me a slap… forget it, still not hit, I’m afraid the dream will wake up…”

And around, all the high-level officials of the world families who came to observe were all horrified and silent. The three family heads, Wen Ren Jing Xuan, Shang Guan Ce, and Gu Shou Yan, even though they had lived for several hundred years and experienced unknown numbers of big winds and waves, were also greatly shocked at this time. Could someone really, from the mouths of the four great sects, hard bite down this piece of fat meat? No, not just bite fat meat, but directly swallowed the four great sects, with a crushing posture, obtained the array dao’s first…

On the great hall of the dojo. All the examiners looked at each other, each could clearly see the shock and astonishment on the other’s face. After a moment, someone shook their head and sighed: “Truly… saw a ghost…”

“Unbelievable…”

“In the Qian Xue State Boundary, geniuses are like clouds, but I now only know exactly what a true genius is called.”

“Greatly opened my eyes…”

“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, ah, is this still human…”

“Mid-stage Foundation Establishment’s array dao championship, ah…”

Someone exclaimed, “Indeed, in this world, any absurd thing can happen…”

Even Master Wen, from the Tian Shu Pavilion, as an array formations master, was somewhat lost in thought at this time, unable to speak. The crowd chatted while being astonished. Suddenly an examiner said: “This child, why is he still sitting there?”

The crowd followed the sound and only then discovered that Mo Hua, who had already won, was still calmly sitting in place, his expression indifferent, not moving. He guessed he should have won. But after all, it was his first time participating in the array discussion assembly, the rules were not too clear, and he didn’t know if there were other contents to compare. What if it wasn’t finished comparing, and he retreated, and the examiners judged him as having lost? Old Mister Xun had instructed him on many things, but he had not told him what to do if he won, if he got first place. So he was just waiting, waiting for the examiners to announce the end.

But he didn’t know how much pressure his unbelievable array formation attainments and his current indifferent expression had caused others, and even led to a certain degree of “misunderstanding”. To the point that the examiners began whispering: “He won, and he still hasn’t come over, what is the meaning?” In past years, disciples who obtained array dao first, without exception, were all full of joy and honored to come to this great hall to accept the chief examiner’s award. Now he wasn’t coming up, could it be that he wanted the examiners to go down? This was not in accordance with etiquette.

“He won’t be… feeling not painted enough, still wanting to continue painting?” an examiner said.

“Won’t be… actually so self-important?”

“This kind of heaven’s chosen son, temperament must be different from ordinary people, any unfathomable thoughts are all within reason.”

“Monstrous talent, originally has strange thoughts, hard to measure with common sense.”

“Then should… continue to examine him?”

The crowd of examiners looked at each other, finally involuntarily looking towards the chief examiner, Master Wen. Master Wen looked at Mo Hua, his eyes revealing thought, then slowly spoke: “Although the array discussion is a competition between disciples, its original meaning is not to strive for strength and fight, to surpass other disciples.”

“But to take oneself, take array formation difficulties, as lifelong opponents.”

“Continuously overcome difficulties, surpass oneself, climb the peak of array formations.”

“Therefore, the true array formation great competition is not comparing who is stronger than others, but comparing who is stronger than oneself.”

“This array discussion assembly, as long as there is one disciple still being examined, then the array discussion is not considered ended.”

The crowd of examiners were moved in their hearts, and successively nodded: “Master Wen’s words are very true.”

“Since that’s the case, then let him examine!”

“I want to see, this boy, who has painted from sixteen patterns to nineteen patterns, painted until now, can still paint how many array formations? His divine sense, can it really be made of iron?”

“That’s right, there are mountains beyond mountains, and heavens beyond heavens. Even if a genius is astonishingly talented, they should also understand this truth, otherwise, they will necessarily not go far in the future…”

“Then continue to examine him.”

“Good!”

Thus, the array discussion continued, and the examiners continued to issue questions. Only this time, the disciple in the great competition was only Mo Hua. The surrounding watching cultivators successively showed confused expressions.

“Not finished comparing? How is he still being examined?”

“System changed? This is an extra match?”

“Don’t know…”

The crowd was unclear, but could only continue watching in this muddled manner. Mo Hua was also somewhat unexpected. He also thought he had finished painting, but the result was that there were still more. But he welcomed it all. Since there were still array formations, he would continue painting. Old Mister Xun said, don’t care about others, just keep painting, painting until the end is fine. And what he was most skilled at was painting array formations.

Thus, Mo Hua continued painting one after another. The array discussion assembly just like this continued in a somewhat strange form. And soon, the examiners’ faces changed. Mo Hua could still paint, and he was still painting! These nineteen-pattern array formations had already almost covered the most array formation types of the sects’ inheritance, and the difficulty was also almost at the top, but Mo Hua could still paint them out without any difference, at ease.

If this wasn’t the Qian Xue State Boundary, wasn’t the Dao Discussion Mountain, and there weren’t so many great powers watching on site, they would almost all think that this was some “old monster” from above the Cave Void in the demonic path, who had seized the body of a little disciple and come to the Dao Discussion Assembly to cause trouble… But obviously not. This little youth, although like a “monster”, his aura was pure, and he was indeed a proper cultivator.

And at this time, he was still one by one, seriously painting array formations. Three nineteen-pattern array formations were just like this painted by him. And looking at it, Mo Hua could continue painting. The crowd of examiners had solemn expressions. The disciples of the four great sects had fallen, and now, this genius’s pressure, unknowingly, was placed on them, these examiners.

Time passed bit by bit. Just like this, without accident, but almost hard to anticipate, Mo Hua, one after another, painted to the final “capping” array formation. This time, everyone’s hearts were all suspended. Capping, as the name implies, was used to “cap” this monstrous talent-like boy. It was totally impossible for him to overturn the cap, right…

All the examiners all looked towards Master Wen, waiting for Master Wen to open the “capping” question. This question was personally set by Master Wen, and only Master Wen himself knew exactly what the question was. The seated crowd had all been unaware beforehand. At the same time, they also regretted in their hearts. “Had I known earlier, I wouldn’t have urged Master Wen last night, let him choose well, choose the most difficult one.”

“Who said ‘casually’ choose? Really damn, all bad ideas…”

“How could I possibly anticipate that this situation would appear?”

Some elder couldn’t help but curse. But things were already like this, saying these things was useless. Master Wen’s expression was solemn, and he slowly opened the last question. This last “capping” question was engraved on a jade-quality inlaid gold capping jade slip, dignified and luxurious, and very grand. And this capping jade slip was actually a “symbol”. In almost all previous array discussion assemblies, it had not been “opened”. Today was its first time seeing the light of day.

The crowd of examiners, with apprehensive hearts, carefully looked at this jade slip, saw the question above, and their suspended hearts slowly settled down. “Worthy of Master Wen, doing things carefully, considering thoroughly.”

“Yes, ah, it’s good that Master Wen is guarding.”

“This capping array formation is chosen extremely wonderfully.”

“This array formation, in the entire Qian Xue State Boundary, no sect will teach it. This monstrous talent definitely hasn’t learned it, and certainly cannot paint it…”

The crowd felt relieved in their hearts. And when this question was sent to Mo Hua’s front, he was indeed also stunned. This was a second-grade array formation he had never seen before. Old Mister Xun had also not taught him, and it exceeded his existing array formation knowledge. Mo Hua’s pen stopped. This was the first time he had stopped his pen since the array discussion great examination. This array formation indeed stumped him, and he indeed could not paint it.

But he had encountered many tricky, strange, obscure, and difficult array formations, and his experience was very rich. Mo Hua began to carefully examine the array diagram on the “capping” jade slip. This was a second-grade array formation that Master Wen had carefully selected with “difficulty” as the standard for capping use. The divine sense requirement was fully at the peak of nineteen patterns. Besides, the array patterns were very complex, and the meanings were obscure. The overall structure was also relatively unfamiliar, greatly different from the existing, orthodox array dao inheritance in the Qian Xue State Boundary — at least the inheritance streams that could be taught to disciples. The array formation also contained some laws of spiritual energy changes. This even had a trace of “forbidden array” meaning…

Spiritual energy changes, half-step forbidden array… Mo Hua’s eyes slightly brightened, then his pupils became profound, and he began to analyze, deconstruct, and derive the array patterns, array hubs, array eyes of this array formation…

After a moment, Mo Hua bit by bit, actually from the underlying structure of this capping array formation, parsed out the essence of these spiritual energy changes: spiritual energy…