Chapter 285: Chapter 284 Contemplation Map_1
Mo Hua’s mind raced, endlessly pondering:
“The third Householder’s divine sense is strong, and his formation skills have reached such a level—could it be that he also relied on a Contemplation Map?”
“If I obtained a Contemplation Map, would I also be able to strengthen my divine sense?”
Having learned Heaven Yan Jue, Mo Hua needed to possess the divine sense of a Foundation Building Cultivator before he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
He had a Taoist Stele and practiced formations every day, honing his Sea of Consciousness; his divine sense was already growing very fast.
But this was still far from enough.
The disparity between the divine senses of the Qi Refinement Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm was too great, and the further one progressed, the more difficult it became, with the growth of divine sense also slowing.
Mo Hua did not know how much longer it would take before he possessed the divine sense of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and could make his breakthrough.
He had asked Mr. Zhuang.
Mr. Zhuang did not give a clear answer, but from the gentleman’s expression, it seemed rather pessimistic.
“If I could comprehend the Contemplation Map and enhance my divine sense, could I establish my foundation faster?”
Mo Hua felt a rush of excitement in his heart.
Being able to establish his foundation sooner, he would be able to learn Second-Grade formations and become a Second Grade Formation Master earlier.
The cultivation and abilities of Foundation Building Cultivators and Second Grade Formation Masters were unmatched by those of Qi Refinement Cultivators and First Grade Formation Masters.
Mo Hua indulged in a moment of aspiration, but then fell into a bit of dejection.
The Contemplation Map was in the hands of the third Householder, a Foundation Establishment Evil Cultivator and an Evil Formation Master; it was impossible for Mo Hua to forcibly take it.
Stratagems were useless as well.
He could still plot against a Qi Refinement Cultivator.
In front of a Foundation Building Cultivator, his schemes were nothing but low-grade tricks that wouldn’t hold water.
Cultivation was the foundation of a cultivator, and in the face of the gaping chasm of realms, petty strategies were to little avail.
Furrowing his brow, Mo Hua found himself at a loss.
Then he realized that the most pressing issue was not whether he could obtain the Contemplation Map, but whether he could safely get out.
If the third Householder did not leave or closed the main door when leaving, Mo Hua would be trapped to death in this bloody pill room.
He had not researched evil formations and did not know if he could unlock them.
If he couldn’t, he figured he would have to stay there indefinitely, keeping company with the White Bone Pill Furnace and the foolish Pig Monster.
Mo Hua thought long and hard, but still, he was without a solution.
Since there was no solution, he could only wait patiently.
Waiting patiently for an opportunity was also one of the essential qualities of a Monster Hunter.
Not only was Mo Hua a Monster Hunter, but he was also a Formation Master.
He could keep his composure, drawing formations all day long, so waiting patiently for a chance to escape didn’t seem too difficult.
Mo Hua lay on the beam, motionless, waiting patiently.
Time passed, and suddenly, someone else approached from outside the door.
A jolt of alarm struck Mo Hua’s heart, “It couldn’t be the fourth Householder coming back...”
If that were the case, it would be troublesome.
With the deep divine sense of the third Householder and the keen perception of the fourth, the risk of Mo Hua’s Concealment Technique being detected would be even greater.
Mo Hua watched intently.
Before long, a figure appeared at the door; it was that old Evil Cultivator from the entrance, not the fourth Householder.
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
The old Evil Cultivator respectfully stood at the door for a while.
The third Householder noticed and carefully put away the Contemplation Map before slowly saying,
“Come in.”
The old Evil Cultivator entered, walked up to the third Householder, and said something in a low voice.
Mo Hua could not make out the words clearly; he only caught some blurred phrases, like “some movement from the Monster Hunters...” “...trouble on the Inner Mountain...” and “fear the fourth Householder causing issues...”
Mo Hua felt a mix of surprise and confusion, “What could go wrong on the Inner Mountain?”
After the old Evil Cultivator finished speaking, the third Householder furrowed his brow and said,
“I understand, I will take a look.”
Mo Hua wanted to open it and take a quick look, but suddenly he hesitated.
He remembered what Mr. Zhuang had told him:
“Contemplation maps are extremely rare and harbor dangers; you shouldn’t touch them unless absolutely necessary...”
A chill went through Mo Hua’s heart.
If he were to heed Mr. Zhuang’s words, rashly opening this contemplation map might expose him to unforeseen dangers.
Mo Hua always remembered Mr. Zhuang’s words.
If Mr. Zhuang said that the contemplation map harbored dangers, then it was best not to touch it until the situation was clear.
But now that the contemplation map was in his hands, should he return it?
Mo Hua hesitated.
If the third householder contemplated this map again, it would enhance his divine sense, allow him to learn more evil formations, and continue to commit wrongdoings, doing even more evil deeds.
Even if Mo Hua didn’t keep the map, he couldn’t let it fall into the third householder’s hands again.
“What should I do?”
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up.
If the map was dangerous, then he wouldn’t look at it now. He would keep the contemplation map and ask Mr. Zhuang about it when he returned.
Mr. Zhuang was well-versed and knowledgeable, and if the gentleman said there was no issue, then he’d contemplate the map.
If the gentleman said the map was problematic, then he’d throw it into the artifact furnace and burn it, ending the matter once and for all.
Mo Hua nodded, thinking this was the safest approach, and decided to put the contemplation map into his storage bag first.
But as he was handling the contemplation map, the corner of his eye inadvertently caught a glimpse of a corner of it.
It was a moss-covered rock.
Seeing the rock, Mo Hua felt slightly puzzled.
Then, he couldn’t help himself, and gradually, little by little, he unfolded the contemplation map.
By the time Mo Hua snapped back to his senses, he was alarmed.
“What am I doing?!”
Mo Hua broke into a cold sweat.
He had not thought of anything nor done anything, and yet it was as if someone was controlling him, opening the contemplation map.
With gritted teeth, Mo Hua attempted to fold the map back up, but it was too late.
The contemplation map was fully unfolded.
A complete contemplation map was laid bare before Mo Hua’s eyes!
Mo Hua also saw what was depicted on the map.
It was a landscape painting with figures.
In the distance, there were green mountains; nearby, a flowing stream; the stream moistened the moss, and the moss climbed up the rocks.
On top of the rocks, a tiny Taoist child sat as if reciting scriptures.
It was a tranquil, serene image of an immortal’s abode.
Mo Hua was stunned.
Was this the contemplation map?
What did this map mean?
As Mo Hua pondered, suddenly he noticed that the little Taoist child seemed to come to life and smiled at him.
The smile was innocent and bright.
Mo Hua was startled, yet he couldn’t help but smile back a bit.
His smile was innocent and pure, somewhat similar to that of the little Taoist child.
But then, a chill ran through Mo Hua’s heart, and the smile on his face gradually faded away.
Because he realized that the little Taoist child’s innocent smile had imperceptibly taken on a hint of malevolence.
The malevolence gradually became eerie.
The little Taoist child’s smile turned more and more bizarre, more and more fierce.
Suddenly, his skin peeled off like paper, revealing a green-faced, fanged little ghost underneath.
The little green-faced ghost, with eyes like bronze bells, stared intently at Mo Hua as if he had seen a rare treasure, with a covetous look.
Seizing Mo Hua’s moment of distraction, it leaped out from the painting, shrinking to the size of a palm, and lunged toward Mo Hua’s forehead, its hand like a sharp claw, tearing through the sea of consciousness’ wall, and burrowed into Mo Hua’s sea of consciousness.