Immortality Through Array Formations Chapter 2038 Chapter 975: Phenomenon (Part 3)

After a brief moment of contemplation, Mo Hua whispered without reservation, "Elder Master, I believe... I have formed a core..."

"Core formation?" Elder Master Xun was momentarily paralyzed. He stared at Mo Hua, who clearly still possessed only the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Realm, with a look of utter bewilderment. "Exactly what kind of core have you formed?"

Mo Hua replied softly, "My divine sense... it has formed a core."

A divine sense core formation?

Elder Master Xun froze, his mind momentarily unable to process the words.

Once the weight of Mo Hua’s statement finally registered, a cold shiver shot straight to his crown. His scalp tingled and his head buzzed with shock, causing his voice to tremble slightly: "You... your divine sense... has actually formed a core?"

Mo Hua nodded with total honesty, feeling a bit confused. Hadn't the ancestor come here precisely because he knew about the core formation? Why was he reacting with such disbelief? Did he not know? If he didn't, then why had he come?

Elder Master Xun released his own divine sense to meticulously examine the spiritual fluctuations radiating from Mo Hua. He realized that this divine sense was far more condensed, purer, and more profound than anything he had encountered before. It had undergone a near "substantial" evolution, which finally served as confirmation. It truly was... divine sense core formation!!

The Elder Master’s breath hitched as his hand, hidden within his sleeve, began to shake. Under normal circumstances, forming a core was not a rare event; every year, many disciples within the Taixu Gate achieved the Golden Core stage. For an ordinary cultivator, reaching the Golden Core is a monumental milestone in their Cultivation journey. However, in the eyes of a Heaven Void Ancestor who had lived for centuries, even millennia, a Golden Core was merely the starting point. He had encountered more Golden Core cultivators in his life than he could possibly count.

But... a Foundation Establishment Realm disciple achieving divine sense core formation?! This was an entirely different matter altogether. Not only in his own long life, but throughout the thousands of years of Taixu Gate's history—even tracing back ten thousand years into the records of the Three Sects—such a thing was completely unprecedented!

Typically, divine sense cannot be cultivated independently; it is strictly tied to one's cultivation realm. Generally, possessing a divine sense that surpasses one's rank by a single level is considered the mark of an extraordinary genius. Surpassing it by two or three ranks is nearly inconceivable. Yet, Mo Hua had bypassed an entire major realm! This leap across a major realm was not just a matter of a few extra patterns; it represented a disparity far greater than a mere doubling of power. Even for a figure as powerful as a Heaven Void Ancestor, the implications were terrifying.

Though he knew Mo Hua possessed a natural affinity for the Dao of divine sense, he had never dared to imagine it reaching such an extreme. Elder Master Xun looked at Mo Hua, noting his clear, bright eyes and the divinity overflowing from his presence, which carried a hint of profound insight into the mysteries of the world. These traits combined to make the boy seem like a strange hybrid of a pure-hearted demon, a youthful deity, and a monstrous genius with a mind bordering on the divine. At that moment, the Elder Master even began to doubt Mo Hua’s "species." Could this truly be the talent of a mere "human"?

"It seems Taixu Gate has truly fostered an incredible 'Little Ancestor' this time..." Elder Master Xun thought, reeling from the shock.

"Ancestor, is something wrong?" Mo Hua asked, still appearing quite lost.

Observing the boy, Elder Master Xun realized that Mo Hua had no idea how grave the situation actually was. This development was likely more dangerous than he had first feared. "When exactly did your divine sense form a core?" Elder Master Xun demanded sternly.

"Just a moment ago..."

"Does anyone else know of this?"

Mo Hua shook his head in the negative.

Elder Master Xun let out a heavy breath of relief before speaking in an incredibly solemn tone: "You must never speak of this to anyone. Remember this well—do not tell a single soul! Even if people start to suspect something, you must deny it completely. Never admit to it!"

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to achieve divine sense core formation was a feat that shattered the known Laws of the Heavenly Dao. If the news were to spread, it would undoubtedly cause a massive upheaval in the cultivation world, drawing the greedy eyes of countless powerful factions. He would be subjected to envy, sabotage, manipulation, and assassination. He might be kidnapped, imprisoned, or caught in a web of conspiracies that would bring ruin upon him. It wasn't even out of the question that he would be captured and treated like a specimen for dissection and research.

The thought sent a chill through Elder Master Xun's heart. Mo Hua, finally sensing the danger, nodded with a grave expression.

"Keep it a secret. Never mention it again."

"Yes, I understand!"

Seeing that Mo Hua finally grasped the severity of the matter, Elder Master Xun finally felt a weight lift from his chest. Then, another thought occurred to him: "When your divine sense formed its core, did any strange phenomena occur?"

"An anomaly?" Mo Hua knitted his brows. "What kind of anomaly?" He was genuinely clueless.

Elder Master Xun frowned, equally uncertain. The images of the radiant golden light and the massive divine tree that had filled the sky flashed through his mind. He wondered to himself: "Could that scene—that colossal golden tree—have been the anomaly triggered by Mo Hua's core formation? It shouldn't be possible... a simple core formation shouldn't produce such a grand spectacle. But then again, achieving this at the Foundation Establishment Realm is so 'deviant' that it already defies the Heavenly Dao. From that perspective, it isn't impossible... Could Mo Hua really have caused it?"

Seeing that Mo Hua was also in the dark, Elder Master Xun sighed quietly. "Never mind. Regardless of whether it was you or not, we must find a way to mask it. We cannot allow any suspicion to take root."

Reassuming a composed mask, Elder Master Xun acted as though it were nothing: "It's nothing important; I was merely curious."

"Oh," Mo Hua replied, not thinking much of it.

"Don't forget my warning. Don't overthink things and get some rest," the Elder Master advised once more.

"Yes, Elder Master. I have taken your words to heart," Mo Hua answered seriously.

"Good."

With a slight nod and a final, deep look at Mo Hua, Elder Master Xun's form flickered as he vanished from the Disciple's Residence. A rift in the void appeared, and he returned to his own quarters. However, before he could even sit down, a visitor arrived. It was the Sect Leader of Taixu Gate.

"Ancestor, it appeared that a strange anomaly manifested in the sky just now..." The Taixu Sect Master said, his brow furrowed.

Elder Master Xun's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his face expressionless as he asked, "What exactly did you observe?"

"There seemed to be streaks of golden light across the heavens, along with some cryptic, fragmented patterns..." the Sect Master reported.

Realizing they hadn't seen the full extent of the vision, Elder Master Xun exhaled slowly. After a moment of thought, he said, "A minor anomaly did occur, but it was nothing of consequence and has been dealt with. Inform the Elders who witnessed it not to be alarmed, but also ensure they do not spread word of it."

Don't be alarmed, but don't talk about it? The Taixu Sect Master found the instruction peculiar, but he assumed the Ancestor had a valid, perhaps secret, reason for the command. "Understood. I will pass on your instructions."

"Very well," Elder Master Xun nodded.

"Then I shall leave the Ancestor to his peace," the Sect Master said as he departed.

Elder Master Xun finally sat and poured a cup of tea. But before he could take a single sip, more guests arrived. The sharp cracks of the void being torn open rang out repeatedly. Three rifts manifested in the center of the room simultaneously. The ancestors from the Tai'a Sect and the Rushing Void Sect, along with Taixu Gate's own Murong Ancestor, all burst into the room at once.

The room was suddenly filled with a chaotic clamor of voices.

"Brother Xun... tell me, did I just hallucinate because I stood up too fast?"

"I'm certain I saw a massive tree."

"That golden light was blinding..."

"A world-class anomaly... this is simply absurd..."

Elder Master Xun felt a headache coming on and sighed. The Taixu Sect Master was a junior with only Feather Transformation cultivation; his vision had been limited and he was easy to misdirect. However, these old fossils were all at the Heaven Void level. They had seen the vision clearly, possessed centuries of cunning, and would not be easily deceived.

Mo Hua, that boy, truly had a knack for causing massive trouble...