Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2273 - 1050: Taoist Heart (2)

Mo Hua nodded, replying, "Partly owing to the Evil Path Great Formation..."

"The Evil Path Great Formation employs human blood for ink, flesh as the medium, bones serving as the pivot, and it refines malevolent power using despair, regret, and slaughter to propel its functions."

"Inside this formation, evil desires surge wildly, with formless evil spirits drifting about. Once tainted by them, a cultivator will slowly descend into demonic transformation..."

"Yet that's merely one aspect. The other key factor lies in the Daoist Heart."

"Daoist Heart?"

All present froze briefly, their brows furrowing deeply.

Nearly every cultivator claims that pursuing the Dao demands a steadfast Daoist Heart.

However, this so-called "Daoist Heart" remains little more than an abstract notion.

It fails to bolster the Spiritual Root, enhance talent, hasten cultivation speed, cut down on needed resources, or serve as a benchmark for sect recruitment.

No mighty Sect will bend its rules to take you in solely for possessing a "Daoist Heart."

Patriarchs of powerful clans won't view you with favor just because of your Daoist Heart.

When your Spiritual Root proves mediocre, a Daoist Heart won't ease your grueling path of cultivation one bit.

If your power lags behind, a Daoist Heart leaves you vulnerable to the whims of the strong.

Thus, the famed "Daoist Heart" holds no tangible worth.

Mighty Sects and noble houses ignore "Daoist Heart" entirely in their judgments.

The so-called "Daoist Heart" amounts to something utterly "worthless."

Before, they might not voice it openly, yet inwardly, they'd scoff at mentions of "Daoist Heart."

Now, after the Evil God's schemes ensnared them in this Evil Path Great Formation, having beheld the surrounding carnage firsthand, their outlook has utterly shifted...

Mo Hua declared, "The Daoist Heart embodies the pursuit of the Dao."

"Without a firm Daoist Heart, worldly cravings like fame, authority, and wealth will dominate one's mind."

"Such stray thoughts and desires accumulate deep within the heart."

"In ordinary times, they pose no threat, but when outside evils stir them and amplify those urges, the Daoist Heart dims or even vanishes, leading cultivators to Qi Deviation and turning into 'Evil Demons.'"

"The frailer the Daoist Heart, the swifter the fall into demonhood."

Mo Hua swept his gaze over the group, stating, "Your current mental clarity stems from luck in avoiding major evil spirits, plus your Daoist Hearts being somewhat sturdier than most cultivators'."

"Those with feeble Daoist Hearts surrender their mental barriers instantly upon brushing an evil spirit, fully succumbing to demonic change."

A prodigious disciple from the heavens trembled, rejecting the notion as he muttered, "No way... We're clearly Righteous Cultivators..."

Mo Hua regarded him steadily, questioning, "Are you... truly Righteous Cultivators?"

"Is your heart genuinely 'righteous'?"

"Do you seek the Dao to grasp the Heavenly Dao and aid all beings? Or merely to harness Heaven and Earth's might for selfish ends, chasing fame, power, personal longevity, and eternal bliss in immortality and luxury?"

"Is true 'immortality' what you truly pursue?"

"Have you not seen that 'demons' crave the exact same things?"

Recalling Elder Zheng's past lessons, Mo Hua spoke deliberately:

"You might bear the title of Righteous Disciples, but righteous and demonic paths are one at root; demons don't emerge from birth or hatching—they transform."

"The Demon Path arises from the Righteous Dao, birthed straight from your own Daoist Heart..."

...

These piercing words drained the color from the sect prodigies' faces, jolting their souls.

Such revelations had never reached their ears, nor been explained in this manner by anyone before.

Though full comprehension might elude them right now,

These statements seared like hot irons, each syllable etching indelibly into their cores.

The destinies of countless prodigies shifted unseen in that instant...

They remained unaware then, as even Mo Hua never foresaw...

...

Having uttered these truths, Mo Hua fell silent.

The hundreds of prodigies from Four Sects, Eight Gates, and Twelve Streams hushed as well, heeding Mo Hua's guidance by focusing intently, shunning desires, murderous urges, rivalries, and petty quarrels...

Observing their newfound discipline, Mo Hua felt a weight lift, now pondering the path ahead.

Mo Hua's aim stayed straightforward: rescue every one of these people.

The formation churned on, evil qi thickening, evil spirits waxing in might.

He remained unscathed, perpetually consuming "evil spirits," none bold enough to challenge this "formidable predator."

Any daring ones got "devoured" by him outright.

But the rest couldn't endure much longer. Should they linger until the formation peaked—evil thoughts flooding like seas, blood misting the air, spirits raining down—not even a Divine Formation could shield them; all would meet doom, his Taixu Gate junior brothers included.

Even these sect elites were but flesh-and-blood cultivators; the Evil God's taint proved far too deadly for them.

"Yet how to escape this formation?"

"Does someone 'watch' us inside it?"

"Is our every action under surveillance?"

"Who masters the formation, and from where?"

"That Mr. Tu, perhaps?"

"But where hides Mr. Tu, and why hasn't he appeared?"

Mo Hua's brow creased.

Clues scarce within the trapping formation, he relied on his expertise as chief "designer" and "deployer" of a First Grade Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation:

A controller must helm the formation.

This controller had to be a Formation Master—an Evil Formation Master, no less.

Mr. Tu likely crafted it as the primary architect.

But the current operator might not be him, given his busier pursuits elsewhere.