Immortality Through Array Formations (The Quest for Immortality)

Chapter 886 – The Two-Yi Lock

The Grand Array Conference had ended.

Within the Ganxue Prefecture Realm, the once-unknown name "Mo Hua" suddenly landed on the desks of every major aristocratic family, every great sect, and even some clan patriarchs and ancient ancestors.

Previously, none of them had even heard of him.

And then—seemingly out of nowhere—this "prodigy" appeared, overwhelmed the Four Great Sects, and with just a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, drew a nineteen-rune peak-level array, broke the conference record, seized first place, and took the title of Array Dao Champion.

Even reading that record made one's heart race—it was nearly impossible to believe.

If this hadn't occurred right in the public eye at the Grand Dao Discourse, anyone who heard of it would've dismissed it as a completely absurd rumor.

Naturally, all the noble houses and sects began investigating Mo Hua's background.

But the Great Void Sect, from the moment Mo Hua took the championship title, immediately sealed all records of his origin and registered background, classifying it as a core sect secret—accessible only to the sect leader and a few grand elders.

Those who had contact with Mo Hua were mostly close to him, and they all kept their mouths shut.

Not that they knew much anyway—Mo Hua had always been discreet.

Over at the Dao Court Division, someone—no one knew who—also ordered Mo Hua's records to be sealed.

His place of birth, background, all traces left in the Ganxue Prefecture since his entry into the Dao Court—including handled cases, captured criminals, slain evil cultivators, earned merit points—all sealed.

The archive bore the Central Dao Court's seal.

No local Dao Court cultivator—not even the Prefecture Magistrate—had clearance to view it.

Thus, outside sources could dig up almost nothing.

The noble families and sects kept circling the same bits of info:

That "Mo Hua" was a cultivator from the Li Prefecture.

But Li Prefecture was huge, with countless subdivisions. No one knew the exact region.

That he was a rogue cultivator.

But the rogue cultivator claim sounded suspicious.

Ordinary rogue cultivators struggled to survive, let alone spend years studying arrays to the point of unimaginable mastery.

Some even speculated that Mo Hua was the illegitimate son of the Great Void Sect's Sect Master.

Others guessed he was the blood grandson of a Great Void elder.

Of course, all rumors. Though more plausible than the "rogue" claim, they had no proof. Most remained skeptical.

If he really did have such status, there'd be no need to hide it.

An Array Dao Champion—any clan would flaunt him as a jewel of their lineage, even if he came from a side branch.

The weight of that title was immense.

Ganxue Prefecture was full of sects and geniuses—but to rise above even them, and bring glory and prestige to your sect or clan, that title meant everything.

Yet no matter how hard people probed, they gained no new information.

After winning the championship, Mo Hua returned to the Great Void Sect and disappeared—like a fish into the deep sea, without even the tiniest ripple.

For a long time, no one even saw him leave the sect mountain.

So, naturally, rumors began…

Was there really a "Mo Hua"?

Geniuses aren't born in a day.

Could someone truly appear out of nowhere, in defiance of all logic, take first place in Array Dao… then vanish?

Was it all just a scheme?

Did the Great Void Sect set it up?

Or had the examiners leaked the answers, committing fraud?

Was this a PR stunt to fabricate a "once-in-a-lifetime array prodigy" and raise the profile of the revised Dao Discourse event?

These rumors, to those who knew better, were laughable.

But to outsiders? They spread like wildfire.

After all—even non-array cultivators knew—"mid-Foundation Establishment, first place in arrays"?

That's insane.

If you're going to brag, at least stay within the realm of common sense.

It didn't help that envy and malice ran deep. Many sought to tear him down.

So awe turned into suspicion.

The name "Mo Hua" became polarizing—revered and reviled in equal measure.

Some called him a fraud.

Some said he was a true genius.

Some said he was a coward, a fake, a schemer.

Others believed he was a real monster, a once-in-a-generation freak of nature.

The public's divided opinion also dragged down the Great Void Sect's reputation.

After all, Mo Hua had no clan—just a single person.

And people's mouths were their own—they'd say whatever they pleased.

Fortunately, the Dao Conference rankings were solid. The Great Void Sect did gain real benefits.

Thanks to Mo Hua's title of Array Champion, the sect's overall standing jumped from dead last among the Eight Great Sects to third place.

This was practically a miracle since the decline of their Divine Thought Sword Manifestation inheritance and the weakening of their foundation.

Top three of the Eight Great Sects.

While outsiders had doubts, those in the know understood how terrifying Mo Hua's talent was.

The upper echelons—sect masters, clan patriarchs, grand elders—never believed Mo Hua's fame was empty.

The stronger and more knowledgeable a cultivator, the more they understood how monstrous it was to possess spiritual sense three levels above your cultivation realm.

Still, many noble houses refused to give up—they continued to investigate Mo Hua.

But the Dao Court had already undergone internal restructuring. The environment had changed—they had no way in.

And the Great Void Sect guarded Mo Hua like a treasure, tightly.

So, most noble families were left with one option:

Divination.

Using Heaven's Secrets techniques to divine Mo Hua's fate.

This violated many taboos of Ganxue's cultivation world.

But… an Array Champion? That name alone was too tempting.

Even if it meant crossing the line, they couldn't resist peeking into his destiny.

So, across Ganxue Prefecture, noble families and major sects began secretly calculating Mo Hua's karmic threads.

Some clan elders had basic knowledge of Heaven's Secrets and tried to divine it themselves.

But karma is elusive, Heaven's Secrets obscure.

These profound arts aren't for everyone—even if you believe, you might not be able to learn; even if you learn, you may not master it.

Even among those at the Void Fusion Realm, only a few had real ability in this field.

Most noble clans could only call in favors—asking friends, allied sects, or specialist organizations like Mystery Valley, famed reclusive Heaven's Secrets sects, to perform divination.

And when they finally did?

Every single attempt met with the same thing:

An impenetrable veil of mist.

Within the fog, there was the division of Yin and Yang, seas of stars, and flowing illusions of the Great Void.

These signs sealed off Heaven's Secrets, veiled all karma.

And within the mists loomed a Void Fusion shadow—deep gaze, controlling all karma, blocking all prying eyes.

"That's… a Heaven's Secrets Lock? Did the Great Void Sect lock his fate?"

"A Void Fusion cultivator holds the threads. Which elder of the Great Void Sect is this?"

"Such a massive investment..."

"They're really going all out."

"They're holding him in the palm of their hand—no one allowed to peek."

"He's just a Foundation Establishment disciple… is this necessary?"

"Necessary? If your sect had an Array Dao Champion, your elders would build a shrine for him too!"

In a hidden gathering, various nobles and hired Heaven's Secrets cultivators discussed:

"So what now? Do we still try divining him?"

"Not impossible…"

"If we unite with a few other families, bring in more Heaven's Secrets cultivators, and use some rare artifacts… maybe we can break the Great Void's lock."

"And then what?" someone sneered.

"Well…"

"Don't say I didn't warn you. That Heaven's Secrets Lock? It's not just a defense—it's a message. It says: This child is under our full protection. The elder has taken him in. We will spare nothing—do not interfere."

"A little quiet divination is one thing. But if you cause a stir, try to forcibly break the karmic lock and peek into a core disciple's secrets…"

"That's stepping over the line. That's a declaration of war."

"Are you really planning to provoke a Void Fusion elder?"

"Or declare war on the Great Void Sect, one of the Eight Great Sects?"

Silence fell over the room.

The speaker was from Mystery Valley—far more versed in Heaven's Secrets than most.

His words carried weight.

But many were still unwilling to let it go.

"We strike fast. Combine our strength. Break the karmic lock, take one quick look, and retreat. The Great Void Sect might not even have time to react."

"And besides, if we do it together, the blame gets spread. Even if they track it back, they won't dare retaliate against us all."

"Makes sense…"

"Worth a try…"

The cultivator from Mystery Valley couldn't help but sneer.

"What are you thinking? You really believe the Great Void Sect's Heaven's Secrets Lock is that easy to break?"

"The Great Void Sect descends from one of the Three Branches. Their ancestral roots are steeped in ancient legacy."

Someone challenged that:

"Even if they have some legacy from the Three Branches, it must be fading by now…"

"If they hadn't pulled off a surprise win at the Array Conference, they might not have even kept their spot among the Eight Great Sects."

The Mystery Valley cultivator shook his head.

"You really don't get it…"

"The Dao Discourse rankings are based on the strength of sect disciples—but that strength doesn't include Heaven's Secrets techniques."

"Nowadays, in the Ganxue Prefecture, inheritance of Heaven's Secrets is in decline."

"Maybe the Great Void Sect isn't what it once was, but they still have one or two Void Fusion ancestors deeply studying karma and fate."

"As for the other sects, even the Four Great Sects have grown complacent. Obsessed with fame and fortune, they've long since tossed aside their foundations. In terms of Heaven's Secrets divination, they're not necessarily stronger than the Great Void Sect."

"So why would you assume breaking their Heaven's Secrets Lock is just a matter of effort?"

This stung a little.

Many cultivators from Ganxue's noble families weren't happy.

"Why talk them up and talk us down? You're overestimating the Great Void Sect. We won't know till we try."

The Mystery Valley cultivator snorted.

"Have you forgotten that sword art of theirs?"

That line made many cultivators' expressions shift.

He continued:

"Even if the legacy of that sword art has supposedly been lost, who's to say there isn't some ancient fossil deep within the sect, who's mastered it and would gladly sacrifice themselves to protect it?"

"If you break their Heaven's Secrets Lock and accidentally provoke such a relic, and they follow the karma thread back to you and land one sword strike to your brain—you'll be instantly soul-shattered."

"And worse—you'll die for nothing."

"You've broken a major taboo. Spied on someone's karma. Who's going to climb the Great Void Mountain to avenge you after your soul is wiped out?"

His words landed like blades—faces turned pale.

Seeing their shaken expressions, the Mystery Valley cultivator softened slightly:

"All of you are insiders. Even if you haven't experienced it personally, you must've heard the saying—'Heaven's Secrets are perilous, karma is unknowable.'"

"Sometimes caution is a virtue. Don't risk it. Don't peer into karma that must not be seen."

He sighed with some emotion.

"To tell the truth… a few years ago, one of Mystery Valley's own, Elder Mei, accepted an invitation from the Shangguan Clan to divine a karma thread here in Ganxue Prefecture."

"And the result…"

The cultivator's voice trembled.

"Elder Mei couldn't refuse the request. He reluctantly attempted to divine what should not be divined. What he saw was pure terror—he coughed blood, his face twisted with horror, and his entire body turned cold. He's still bedridden in Mystery Valley recovering."

"It may be a different case, but the principle is the same. I urge you all—tread carefully when it comes to karma."

His solemn expression brought grim nods from the clan cultivators. The warning landed.

They might still try some backdoor divinations in secret—but none could break the Great Void's karmic lock.

Fearful of offending the sect, they didn't dare go too far.

And eventually, they just let it go.

Unintentionally, this decision also saved their lives.

Within the Great Void Sect—

Venerable Elder Xun reminded Mo Hua:

"The item I gave you—wear it around your neck. Don't take it off."

Mo Hua reached up and touched the jade pendant on his neck.

This jade lock, of unknown material, was carved with bagua symbols, split between yin and yang, with starry light pulsing within, as profound and ethereal as the Great Void itself.

According to Elder Xun, this was the Great Void Two-Yi Lock, capable of sealing off karma.

"Elder, what exactly does this lock do?" Mo Hua asked.

"Don't ask. Just wear it. Don't lose it," Elder Xun said sternly.

Mo Hua obediently nodded.

If Elder Xun gave it to him, it had to be important. If he said to wear it—he'd keep it on at all times.

Elder Xun watched as Mo Hua wore the jade lock close to his skin and finally let out a sigh of relief.

This Two-Yi Lock was one of a kind, a Heaven's Secrets treasure passed down in the Great Void Sect. Elder Xun usually didn't even dare look at it, let alone use it.

But times had changed.

He could only give it to Mo Hua—like a "longevity lock"—to protect him.

Mo Hua's karma had to be protected at all costs.

With so many greedy eyes in Ganxue Prefecture, he had no choice but to pull out this heirloom, lock down Mo Hua's karma, and intimidate would-be snoops.

No helping it. Mid-Foundation, spiritual sense beyond his tier, first place in Array Dao—put together, it was all too monstrous.

"People fear fame like pigs fear fat," Elder Xun muttered. "Better to keep a low profile."

His heart was to protect Mo Hua.

What he didn't realize was that, in doing so—by giving Mo Hua the Two-Yi Lock—he had accidentally spared many clans and sects in Ganxue Prefecture from disaster.

Had Mo Hua's karma remained unsealed, and others tried to divine it…

Then the karma of evil gods and tainted Dao would've spread—who knows how many cultivators would be corrupted.

Ganxue Prefecture might've descended into chaos overnight.

And Mo Hua would've truly become a "harbinger of calamity."

"From now on," said Elder Xun, "stay in the sect. Don't go anywhere. Focus on cultivating. Wait for this storm to pass."

Mo Hua nodded earnestly. "Yes, Elder Xun."

He still had a lot to do.

He needed to review the final array from the Array Conference—the nineteen-rune peak-tier Reversed Spirit Array—while it was still fresh in his mind.

He still had to learn the God-Slaying Sword.

He had to keep practicing Water Shadow Phantom Body.

Most importantly, the Array Conference was over, the sect's precarious ranking secured—now he could focus solely on breaking through to late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Thus, Mo Hua remained in the Great Void Sect, cultivating in peace.

But… even if the tree wishes to be still, the wind does not stop.

Many sects still couldn't eat or sleep, endlessly troubled by his existence.

Especially the Four Great Sects.

At the Heavenly Dao Sect, in their meeting hall—

Elders from Heaven Sword Sect, Dragon Cauldron Sect, and Ten Thousand Skies Sect had come to meet with Elder Shen of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

"Still no divination result…"

"The Great Void Sect is hiding something. They're scared of people seeing through this kid's karma."

"Of course they are. If it were you, would you let others peek?"

"That old ancestor of the Great Void Sect… what a strategist. Hiding a trump card like that—unbelievable."

"They were supposed to go down with the Tai'a Sect and Chongxu Sect. Now they've not only survived—they've risen. They're ranked third now…"

"So what do we do now?"

"What can we do? The result's already set. The Array Champion has been decided. Even if we wanted to change it, it's too late…"

"I mean—what about the next competition?" the elder from Heaven Sword Sect asked, frowning.

The Dragon Cauldron Sect elder paused. "Next time?"

The Heaven Sword elder spoke grimly:

"This round is over. We were caught off guard and got played by the Great Void Sect. We missed the chance to take first—it's regrettable, but there's no point dwelling on it now. The real issue… is the next one."

His face grew darker by the second—there was even a trace of dread.

"That boy's talent… it's terrifying. He's only at mid-Foundation, yet he completely crushed the prodigies of our Four Great Sects—even those at late Foundation and peak Foundation! And he still took first in the Array Dao!"

"So what happens in the next one?"

"By then he'll be at late Foundation. If his array skills improve even further, what can we possibly use to compete with him?"

"He could win with his eyes closed!"

The group of elders looked absolutely miserable.

"That freak, Mo Hua… do you seriously not realize how absurd his array skills are already?"

The Heaven Sword elder felt a chill crawl up his spine.

"Mid-Foundation cultivation—yet he dominates three generations. He overshadows the Four Sects, crushes the Eight Schools, sweeps through the Twelve Orders, and suppresses hundreds—maybe thousands—of sects across all of Ganxue Prefecture…"

"This is a once-in-a-millennium, cliff-like prodigy—the kind that stands so high above others, no one can even see the peak!"

"As long as he's around, every Array Dao disciple in Ganxue will be forced to bow their heads. They'll live in his shadow, never able to rise above it."

"From now on, the Array Conference… we'll be forever stuck fighting for second place. Just glancing at the Champion seat will be a luxury."

His voice trembled with disbelief. Cold sweat beaded on his back.

Elder Shen, along with the elders of Dragon Cauldron and Ten Thousand Skies Sects, all wore frosty expressions.

A heaven-defying prodigy. Peerless. Unstoppable.

And of all places… he ends up in the Great Void Sect.

Just their luck.

The Dragon Cauldron elder narrowed his eyes. "Then… should we?"

The elder from Ten Thousand Skies Sect frowned. "Don't be reckless. He's a chosen of fate. You really dare to make a move? Mess with him, and you'll ruin your own luck."

"I didn't mean kill him," the Dragon Cauldron elder said. "I meant… maybe we could win him over. Get him to join the Four Sects."

"And if we can't, then… maybe we tempt him. Lead him astray."

"Wine, women, wealth, and indulgence—he's still human, right? He's bound to like at least one of those. If he falls into worldly pleasures, gets stuck on romance or lust—then he's finished."

"Most geniuses succeed on 'talent,' but fall because of their 'hearts.'"

"The Great Void Sect isn't stupid. You think they'll let you mess around like that?"

"Still, it's worth a shot. What do we have to lose? It's not like I've got someone even more monstrous waiting in the wings to outmatch him!"

"…I still think it's risky…"

...

The room buzzed with murmurs and half-baked plans—but none bore fruit.

An hour later, they left one by one, each with their own thoughts.

Only Elder Shen remained.

He frowned deeply.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't come up with a single strategy that could compete with the Great Void Sect's demonic genius.

Let alone defeat him—even containing him was a pipe dream.

Spiritual Sense exceeding Tier 3. That alone was heaven-defying…

And that wasn't even counting his terrifyingly solid foundation in array arts.

Elder Shen shook his head and sighed.

"Mo Hua…"

Now just hearing the name sent a chill through his spine.

He even had the occasional nightmare about it.

He slowly stepped out of the hall—but only managed a few paces before stopping cold, eyes widening.

"Wait a second… this name… sounds familiar…"

"Is it just because we've been talking about him too much lately? Or have I heard it… somewhere before?"

His brow furrowed deeper.

Mo Hua…

Mo Hua…

Mo…

Suddenly his eyes flew open. Bits of long-forgotten memories surfaced—pieces he'd once discarded without a second glance.

A cold, creeping dread began to rise in his heart.

Elder Shen trembled, spun around, and rushed back to his personal archives.

His hands shook as he rummaged through a mountain of old scrolls and documents.

He was looking for one thing:

A residency record.

Back then, he'd tossed it aside without a care. Now he was scrambling to recover it, utterly frantic.

Eventually—after who knows how long—he found it. Stuffed in a corner, buried under years of dust, a completely ordinary registration scroll.

Hands trembling, he opened it.

On it was a line written in red:

"Possesses sect entry order, but qualifications do not meet standard—pending review."

And the name?

"Loose cultivator from Lizhou — Mo Hua."

Elder Shen turned pale as a corpse.

The words he'd spoken back then came echoing back with cruel clarity:

"A backwater loose cultivator from Lizhou…"

"Mid-to-low Five Element root…"

"Not worth a second look…"

"Under 'Special Skills' he wrote… Array Dao?"

"The nerve… writing something like that. Foolish ignorance."

"Some country bumpkin learns a few formations and thinks he's a genius… has no idea how deep the ocean is."

"This is Gan Prefecture. The Ganxue Realm. We have no shortage of geniuses in Array Dao—we don't need his kind."

"Opportunity is one thing, but our sect's destiny is too great. He can't bear it."

"Too much fortune isn't always good…"

"Those with thin blessings… can't carry heavy fate…"

His face burned red. His heart was bitter beyond belief.

"That disciple… held an Entry Order. He wanted to join my Heavenly Dao Sect. And I… rejected him."

This demon who now crushed three generations, dominated the Four Sects, and left the competition in the dust—was personally handed over to the Great Void Sect by ME?

His heart sank like ice.

And then… there was that Entry Order.

Now it was clear—that ancient token carried great karma.

That child came holding a genuine sect token, wishing to join Heavenly Dao Sect… Very likely, some high figure had gifted it to him—offering our sect a once-in-a-lifetime karmic opportunity.

And I personally snuffed it out.

Cutting off fate. Ending fortune.

Elder Shen's face turned ashen. A wave of dread like the sky collapsing crushed down on him. His vision went black.

And he collapsed to the floor, paralyzed.

(End of this Chapter)