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

Mo Hua nodded and replied, "Partly due to the Evil Path Great Formation..."

"This Evil Path Great Formation employs human blood as ink, human flesh as the medium, human bones as the pivot, refining evil power through despair, regret, and slaughter to power the formation's workings."

"Inside the formation, evil desires surge wildly, with formless evil spirits roaming about. Once tainted by them, a cultivator will slowly turn into a demon..."

"Yet that's merely one factor. The other stems from the Daoist Heart."

"Daoist Heart?"

All of them froze briefly, then furrowed their brows deeply.

Nearly everyone claims that those who cultivate the Tao need a steadfast Daoist Heart.

However, this so-called "Daoist Heart" remains just a hazy notion.

The Daoist Heart fails to bolster the Spiritual Root, boost talent, hasten cultivation speed, cut down on needed resources, or serve as a standard for sects taking in disciples.

No mighty Sect will specially recruit you merely for possessing a so-called "Daoist Heart."

Heads of powerful families won't view you any differently simply because of your Daoist Heart.

With a weak Spiritual Root, a Daoist Heart won't ease your tough path in cultivation one bit.

If your power lags behind, a Daoist Heart won't stop others from bullying you.

Thus, the so-called "Daoist Heart" holds no practical value.

Mighty Sects and clans completely ignore "Daoist Heart" in their judgments.

The so-called "Daoist Heart" is truly a "worthless" thing.

Before, they wouldn't voice it openly, but inwardly, they scoffed at mentions of "Daoist Heart."

Now, after the Evil God's schemes trapped them in this Evil Path Great Formation, witnessing the surrounding carnage firsthand, their outlook has shifted entirely...

Mo Hua declared, "The Daoist Heart is the heart pursuing the Dao."

"Without a firm Daoist Heart, one gets swayed by mortal cravings like fame, authority, and wealth."

"These stray thoughts and desires pile up deep within the heart."

"In ordinary times, it might not show, but when outside evils stir them and cravings amplify, the Daoist Heart dims or even vanishes, leading the cultivator to Qi Deviation and turning into an 'Evil Demon.'"

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

Mo Hua swept his gaze over the group, "Your current clarity holds because luck spared you from major evil spirits so far, and also since your Daoist Hearts are somewhat sturdier than most cultivators'."

"Those with feeble Daoist Hearts lost their mental barriers instantly upon brushing an evil spirit, fully demonizing right away."

A prodigious disciple from the heavens trembled, refusing to believe, and whispered, "No way... We're clearly Righteous Cultivators..."

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

"Is your heart genuinely 'righteous'?"

"Do you pursue cultivation to grasp the Heavenly Dao and aid all beings? Or just to grab Heaven and Earth's might for selfish ends, chasing fame, power, personal longevity, and eternal life, reveling in endless glory and riches?"

"Is true 'immortality' what you really seek?"

"Have you realized 'demons' chase the exact same things?"

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

"You might be Righteous Disciples, yet righteous and demonic paths are one at root; demons don't emerge from birth or hatching but through transformation."

"The Demon Path arises from the Righteous Dao, born right from your Daoist Heart..."

...

These statements drained the color from every sect prodigy's face, jolting their souls.

Such ideas were utterly new to them; no one had ever explained it like this.

Though they might not fully grasp Mo Hua's meaning just yet,

These words seared into their minds like hot irons, each syllable etching deep.

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

They remained unaware then, and even Mo Hua hadn't foreseen it...

...

After these words, 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, killing urges, competitive strife, and arguments...

With everyone finally "settled," Mo Hua exhaled in relief, 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 gaining might.

He himself faced no threat, constantly swallowing "evil spirits," none bold enough to challenge this "major player."

Any daring ones got "devoured" by him.

But the rest couldn't endure much longer. If they lingered, as the formation peaked—evil thoughts flooding like seas, blood misting the air, evil spirits raining down—even Divine Formations couldn't save them; all would die, Taixu Gate juniors included.

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

"But how to escape this formation?"

"Does someone 'watch' inside the formation?"

"Is our every action under surveillance?"

"Who masters the formation, and from where?"

"That Mr. Tu?"

"Where is Mr. Tu hiding, and why hasn't he appeared?"

Mo Hua's brow creased.

Clues scarce within the trapping formation, he could only deduce from his role as chief "designer" and "builder" of a First Grade Five Elements Slaughter Demon Great Formation:

A controller surely directed the formation.

This controller had to be a Formation Master—an Evil one at that.

Mr. Tu likely crafted the formation originally.

But the current operator might not be him, tied up with weightier tasks.