The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2406: Taotie (part 3)

Throughout this time, Mo Hua dedicated himself to deciphering ancient scripts. When he encountered challenges in understanding the old texts, he would seek guidance from senior disciples who were several years his cultivation senior. If further clarification was needed, Elder Chu was the one he would turn to for advice.

"Of any three individuals walking together, one is bound to be my teacher," he once mused.

Given his relatively nascent stage in cultivation, Mo Hua hadn't yet delved deeply into many of the Taoist teachings. Consequently, he eagerly absorbed knowledge whenever the opportunity arose, posing questions and learning with sincere dedication, striving to broaden his understanding and worldview.

For a cultivator, robust cultivation is merely one facet of strength.

The potency derived from knowledge and comprehension holds equal significance.

Mo Hua absorbed knowledge concurrently with his deciphering efforts, fully immersing himself in the study of Taoist principles with unwavering focus, akin to quenching his thirst with sweet spring water.

Elder Master Xun would occasionally visit Mo Hua, frequently observing him thriving within the Scripture Pavilion as comfortably as a fish navigates its natural element.

A contingent of Inner Sect Elders, accompanied by a number of senior inner disciples, were gathered around Mo Hua, deeply engrossed in some form of research.

Their findings would subsequently require Mo Hua’s careful consideration and "review."

This situation positioned Mo Hua, a mere Outer Gate disciple, in a role resembling that of an Inner Gate "Esteemed Senior Brother."

Elder Master Xun let out a soft sigh, finding himself momentarily at a loss for words.

"This young lad certainly has a knack for finding favor wherever he goes..."

Elder Master Xun let out a slight shake of his head.

Nevertheless, Mo Hua's harmonious integration into the Inner Gate was undoubtedly a positive development.

As for the specific nature of Mo Hua's research, he harbored his own objectives, and Elder Master Xun maintained a policy of non-interference for the most part.

After all, any issues Mo Hua might face were likely ones he would endeavor to resolve independently.

Those challenges that proved insurmountable would eventually necessitate his seeking assistance.

Elder Master Xun felt no particular apprehension.

He cast another silent glance at Mo Hua, verifying the stability of his Sea of Consciousness, the normalcy of his emotional state, and the absence of any ominous signs within his Life Chart, before giving a slight nod and silently departing.

Within the confines of the Scripture Pavilion, Mo Hua persisted in his study of the Ancient Wilderness Text.

With the enlightened guidance from Elder Chu and the collaborative efforts of the senior inner disciples, the deciphering process advanced with remarkable speed.

In less than a fortnight, a preliminary translation of the Ancient Wilderness Text, contained within the Evil God Bone Scroll, was completed.

Mo Hua expressed his profound gratitude, reiterating his thanks multiple times to Elder Chu and the senior disciples.

Through these diligent days of effort, Mo Hua finally attained a foundational understanding of the Ancient Wilderness Text, learning about the origins of this Ancient Wild Extinct Formation:

As the Second Elder had stated, this formation indeed traced its roots back to a Great Witch of the Barbaric Wilderness from ages past.

This Great Witch possessed profound knowledge of celestial bodies and was exceptionally skilled in witchcraft. By synthesizing various formations from the Great Wilderness into a cohesive system, he achieved unparalleled recognition in the world.

Later, through an unintentional entry into the Abyssal Swamp, he narrowly escaped demise and experienced a serendipitous encounter, acquiring an ancient "Taotie Fierce Formation."

However, the Taotie Formation, constructed with Fierce Beast Formation Patterns, was not inherently designed for human utilization.

Furthermore, due to its ancient and savage nature, it proved incompatible with any conventional cultivation systems, whether originating from the Taoist Court or the Great Wilderness, thereby preventing the full realization of its potential.

Refusing to accept this limitation, the Great Witch poured his entire being into the endeavor, exhaustively scrutinizing ancient texts, expending his lifelong Divine Thought and Divine Sense Calculation Power. Ultimately, he succeeded in modifying the Taotie Ancient Formation into one that cultivators could wield.

This resulting formation is precisely the Twelve Scripture Gluttonous Spirit Corpse Formation!

The central issue, however, is that this formation is far from straightforward.

Despite the Great Witch’s most strenuous efforts, the inherent difficulty of a Second Grade formation with Twenty Patterns remained formidable, sufficiently intimidating to all Formation Masters.

Consequently, as centuries passed, the formation gradually faded into obscurity.

The ancestral records inscribed on the Bone Scroll only extended to this point.

This particular record lacks substantial detail.

It is highly probable that additional secrets are involved, such as the reasons why the royal family of the Great Wilderness chose to seal this Ultimate Formation, a matter not elaborated upon in the Bone Scroll.

Yet, these details are secondary; Mo Hua's primary objective is to uncover the principles and diagrams of the Twelve Scripture Gluttonous Spirit Corpse Formation.

Mo Hua continued to turn the pages.

The structure of the Bone Scroll was intricate, reminiscent of the skeletal joints of a colossal beast, displaying a rather peculiar design.

Each recorded segment was obscured by a veil of dark mist.

Only by comprehending the preceding layer of the Ancient Wilderness Text could one gain access to the deeper texts and accompanying imagery.

Following the account of its origins, the scroll detailed the formation's principles and crucial aspects.

Mo Hua briefly perused this section, absorbing just enough to grasp the fundamental concepts, which sent a shiver down his spine, a profound sense of shock washing over him.

It presented an unexpectedly ingenious and novel concept for a formation.

It showcased fantastical designs, divine craftsmanship, and methods as novel as a unicorn hiding its horn.

Some of his prior speculations turned out to be correct.

The Twelve Scripture pertains to the twelve regular meridians within a cultivator’s body, interlinking organs such as the Sanjiao, revolving in sync with the twelve-hour changes, and adhering to natural circulation.

Taotie refers to that ancient formation, greedily fierce, being the formation’s origin.

In the text "Spiritual Remains," the term 'Spirit' denotes Spiritual Power, while 'Remains' signifies the cultivator’s bones.

The so-called 'Spiritual Remains' thus means the remnants of Spiritual Power.

By incorporating the Taotie Ancient Formation with a cultivator’s twelve meridians and surrounding bones, an "external spiritual bone" is formed for holding immense Spiritual Power.

At that point, Spiritual Power can be stored within the Taotie Spiritual Remains.

Upon engaging in a duel, when depleted of Spiritual Power, one can unlock the formation’s seal and release the tremendous stored Spiritual Power from the Taotie Spiritual Remains.

Devouring Spiritual Power, transforming into a Taotie.

This Ancient Wild Extinct Formation would transform one into a terrifying Fierce Beast possessing endless power.

Mo Hua felt a surge of emotion within him.

Utilizing the Twelve Scripture Gluttonous Spirit Corpse Formation as his Lifebound Formation, integrated into his twelve meridians and surrounding bones, would massively compensate for his deficiency in Spiritual Power.

His own mana would then become as vast as the sea, boundless and inexhaustible.

Then...

With the backing of the Spiritual Corpse Formation, his mastery of all skills would no longer be confined to the cyclical flow of the Little Five Elements Skill.

Medium-grade Daoist skills could be learned and performed without any concern regarding the exhaustion of Spiritual Power.

Even exceptionally potent and massively consuming Superior Daoist Magic wouldn’t be beyond reach.

Mo Hua’s heart grew warm.

In the world of skills, only speed reigns supreme.

This was a principle Grandpa Gui imparted to him years ago.

The stronger the Divine Sense, the greater the control, and consequently, the faster the spell.

However, what Grandpa Gui referred to back then was in the context of the Fireball Technique and certain lower-tier spells, where "only speed reigns supreme."

But what if he could achieve the same "only speed reigns supreme" with Superior Daoist Magic as with the Fireball Technique? Would it mean he could truly create...

"Instant-cast Superior Daoist Magic?"

If the Twelve Scripture Gluttonous Spirit Corpse Formation could absorb and store sufficient Spiritual Power, then such "instant-cast Superior Daoist Magic," developed simultaneously, might not be limited to just one?

All laws are interconnected, the Five Elements flow.

This flow represents the instant-cast Superior Daoist Magic.

Moreover... it implies "consecutive instant casts" of Superior Daoist Magic.

Mo Hua drew in a sharp breath.

The terrifying nature of this vision surpassed anything he had dared to imagine.

He would become a genuine "spell cannon"... or rather, a beastly "spell monster," ferocious like a Taotie.