Chapter 1023: The Weight of a True Dao Master
Chapter 1023: The Weight of a True Dao Master
Late at night, in Qianxue Prefecture.
In a grand hall of a certain sect.
A group of Dao Law elders had gathered again, their faces dark.
The last time they had a late-night meeting was... the last time.
They had assumed that Mo Hua would no longer cause any trouble, and Tai Xu Gate had indeed lost several matches in a row.
With the situation seemingly under control, they never expected this pesky Mo Hua to stir things up again.
This time, the hall was even more crowded.
In addition to the Dao Law elders, a group of array elders had also been summoned.
After all, Dao Law elders specialized in Dao Law.
When it came to array issues...
While they were all Jin Dan cultivators with broad expertise, they weren't completely clueless.
But that was for ordinary array issues.
When it came to exceptional array geniuses, they were out of their depth.
Especially someone like Mo Hua, who was the True Dao Master among thousands of sects in Qian Study.
Even though he was just at the Zhu Ji stage and still a sect disciple, his mastery of arrays far surpassed that of the Dao Law elders.
Specialized tasks required specialized cultivators.
Therefore, some array elders with deep knowledge from various sects were specifically invited to attend the meeting.
The array elders found this peculiar.
Such a situation had never occurred before.
After all, this was the Lunjian Conference, where the focus was on sword techniques and Dao Law.
Elders who studied Dao Law would never consult array experts for such matters.
But with Mo Hua, things began to break new ground.
Inside the hall, a group of cultivators sat in a circle, discussing heatedly:
"Looks like we underestimated this kid..."
"Who would have thought he'd go to such lengths at the Lunjian Conference, creating high-level arrays to defend the city? It's outrageous..."
"This brat always finds new ways to surprise us..."
"Really, it's a headache..."
One Dao Law elder, furious with Mo Hua, snorted coldly:
"The Lunjian Conference has been around for a thousand years, and no one has ever exploited this loophole. This kid is just too sly, acting as a show-off..."
"Is it that no one has tried to exploit the loophole? It's that no one has the ability to do so!"
"How many people at the Zhu Ji Late Stage can draw a high-level array with nineteen patterns? Such people usually wouldn't even participate in Lunjian."
"You don't understand", an array elder explained. "It's not just about being able to draw; the key is to draw quickly."
"During a battle, drawing two or even three high-level arrays in a short time... his array-drawing speed is truly astonishing..."
"Let alone a Zhu Ji cultivator, even many Jin Dan array elders here might not be as fast as this kid."
The array elders present looked uncomfortable but had no way to refute this.
Some of them had observed the battle.
Others, even if they hadn't been there, had watched the battle recordings on the Mo Ying Tu multiple times.
When Mo Hua drew arrays, he did so discreetly, but the speed at which he formed them was truly breathtaking.
Amateurs only saw the high-level arrays.
Only experts could appreciate that the speed of array formation was the most astonishing aspect.
The more powerful an array, the longer it took to prepare.
This was one of the biggest drawbacks of arrays.
If they couldn't be drawn quickly, their power was useless.
Therefore, in addition to his profound array skills, Mo Hua's ability to form arrays rapidly was almost like cheating.
"We've been outsmarted by this kid..."
Someone sighed, helplessly, "In Tai Xu Gate's Lunjian team, Mo Hua's role was always meant to be an array master!"
Not just any array master.
A highly skilled, second-tier high-level array master with exceptional self-preservation abilities!
That's why the old ancestor and the higher-ups of Tai Xu Gate allowed him to team up with talented cultivators like Ling Hu Xiao.
They had hidden their cards well.
First, it was his spells, then invisibility, followed by his movement techniques, and finally, his array skills.
His trump cards were revealed step by step.
Everyone was led by the nose, one step at a time.
Everyone's impression of Mo Hua had evolved from a falsely renowned "True Dao Master" to a "slacker" at the Lunjian Conference, a "crown prince" of Tai Xu Gate, and then a low-level magic cultivator, a magic cultivator with invisibility, and a magic cultivator with movement techniques...
Just when everyone thought he was a versatile and powerful magic cultivator, he suddenly brought out his old specialty, leaving everyone off guard.
In the end, everything came full circle:
Mo Hua was still that array genius who dominated four sects and three generations.
He was the top array master of Qian Study, the True Dao Master!
At this moment, the Dao Law elders in the hall finally realized this.
For a moment, they all felt like monkeys being toyed with by a sesame seed, a corn kernel, and a watermelon.
"This damned brat... really deserves to die..."
An elder gritted his teeth in frustration.
If he weren't an elder, he would have joined the "Kill Mo Order" and become part of the large family condemning Mo Hua.
"Alright", another elder said, "complaining won't help. What we need to do is find a way to deal with the current situation."
"There's a one-time solution..."
An elder’s eyes flashed. "We can rule him in violation, revoke his win from the last match, and prohibit him from using high-level arrays again."
"Sounds good!"
"There's no precedent for using high-level arrays in the Lun Jian Conference."
"Ruling him in violation will settle everything."
Others chimed in in agreement.
But someone sneered, "It's not that simple."
"Taking apart the array medium, carrying an array pen, and using spirit ink—all these are already part of the Lun Jian rules."
"If we want to rule him in violation, we need to add new rules and change the existing ones."
"The rules from the Lun Dao Mountain have been in place for thousands of years. Who dares to change them?"
"True... the ancestral laws cannot be altered."
"At least we can remove spirit ink from the miscellaneous items?"
"Nonsense! The spirit ink was personally placed in the 'miscellaneous' category by the ancestor of Lun Dao Mountain. He must have had his reasons."
"The ancestor of Lun Dao Mountain is not just any ancestor."
"Don't even talk about spirit ink. If he put a pile of feces there, it would have deep significance, and you couldn't change it!"
"Given the number of elders here, shouldn't you be more refined in your language?"
"Rough words, but the truth is the truth."
Some nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
"The ancestral laws cannot be changed..."
"Moreover, even if we want to change them now, it's a bit too late. The competition has already reached this stage."
"Besides, this is the Lun Jian Conference, watched by countless esteemed guests. Changing the rules at the last minute would look too frivolous and invite criticism."
"We can't change them, so we have to deal with it this way."
"Then we need to find a way to counter Mo Hua's arrays?"
"A high-level array with nineteen patterns isn't easy to learn. I doubt this kid has learned many."
"Once we figure out the foundation of his arrays, it will be easier to handle him..."
Before anyone could respond, a seasoned, highly perceptive array elder sneered, "Do you even know the weight of the title 'True Dao Master'?"
"Figuring out the foundation of his arrays?"
"Do you know who you're talking about?"
"Didn't you watch the last Array Discussion Conference?"
"Do you have any idea how Mo Hua won? Do you understand what 'domination' means?"
"This is the Lun Jian Conference, where he relies on spells. That's why the matches are evenly matched."
"But if it were the Array Discussion Conference, focusing on arrays, I can tell you bluntly, all those Tianjiao, every single one of them, would be useless!"
"Lunjian is the away team, but in array discussions, he is the home team."
"Truly, in the realm of arrays, Mo Hua is not just the best of some sect; he is the undisputed first in the Qian Study!"
"You don't study arrays, and you don't teach arrays. You have no idea how deep his foundation in arrays is."
"Even more, you have no idea how unbelievable it is to have such a prodigy in arrays..."
The elder who spoke had white hair, deep wrinkles, and a long history of service.
His words left everyone with a grim expression.
But no one dared to contradict him, and no one had the words to do so.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
A highly respected elder of the Qian Dao Sect, standing on the stage, then said solemnly:
"So, what do you suggest, Elder Yan?"
The white-haired elder, known as "Elder Yan", thought for a moment and then said bluntly:
"Forgetting about countering him with arrays is out of the question."
"Even if you combine all the disciples of your four major sects, not one of them can match him in arrays."
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have won the title of True Dao Master."
"That was three years ago..."
The Qian Dao Sect elder's face turned ashen, but he said nothing.
Elder Yan continued, "You may not like this kid, but you have to admit his talent in arrays."
"Three years have passed. No one knows how much his array skills have improved."
"Thus, you definitely can't match him in arrays."
"But arrays are arrays. They are powerful, but they have significant limitations."
"Arrays need to be set up in advance, and once set, they cannot be moved."
"These limitations apply to any array master, even a prodigy like him."
"Additionally, no matter how fast Mo Hua draws his arrays, it still takes time, which is a vulnerability."
"His habits in drawing, setting up, and using arrays can be studied and exploited..."
"Anything, anyone, can be studied."
"Once thoroughly studied and understood, even the most skilled array master will be constrained, and no matter how advanced his arrays, he won't be able to create any waves..."
Elder Qian Dao's expression finally relaxed, and he clasped his hands and said, "Then I'll leave it to you, Elder Yan."
Elder Yan nodded slightly, but his expression was still tense.
...
It was deep into the night at Tai Xu Gate.
Mo Hua was still hunched over his desk in the disciples' quarters, meticulously planning something on a piece of paper.
Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
The Lunjian might seem simple—just a match against other sects' Tianjiao to determine a winner—but Mo Hua had invested a great deal of time and effort into it.
Night after night, he strategized, analyzed, and sought that sliver of a chance to win.
However, the cultivators watching the matches and the majority of people wouldn't see this effort.
Victory never comes easily.
Moreover, none of the Tianjiao from the major sects in Qianxue Prefecture were easy to deal with.
Even the Lunjian with Tianjian Gate during the day was no exception.
Mo Hua had already used his trump cards, enhancing the city gates with high-level arrays, but Tianjian Gate still managed to breach them twice.
Especially Xiao Ruohan, with that move, the Nine Sword Styles, which was incredibly powerful.
If it weren't for his superior skills and a hidden trick, he might have lost again.
Mo Hua sighed, "Winning a single match is so hard..."
Over time, after facing many disciples from various sects, especially after personally clashing with Tianjiao of Xiao Wuchen and Ao Zhan's caliber, Mo Hua truly felt the depth of Qian Study's sect and the strength of the noble disciples.
Tianjiao of Xiao Wuchen and Ao Zhan's level were on par with Zhu Ji, the peak Fire Buddha he had encountered in the past.
In terms of spiritual roots and the inheritance of Dao techniques, Xiao Wuchen and these Tianjiao were even a step above the Fire Buddha.
The Fire Buddha did die at his hands, but Mo Hua knew it was because Uncle Gu, at the Jin Dan stage, had drawn the Fire Buddha's attention and fought him to the brink of exhaustion, allowing Mo Hua to seize the opportunity.
The Lun Jian Conference was different.
In the Lunjian, Mo Hua wouldn't have a Jin Dan stage "Uncle Gu" to draw the attention and block the attacks from Xiao Wuchen and Ao Zhan.
Moreover, the Fire Buddha was just one person.
But in the Tianjiao Lunjian, Xiao Wuchen and Ao Zhan were part of a team of five.
The others around Xiao Wuchen and Ao Zhan were also top-notch talents from their respective sects.
And this Lunjian was watched by countless eyes from Qian Study. Mo Hua couldn't use all his means without any reservations.
Winning even one match was a struggle.
And even if he won one, what about the rest?
Xiao Wuchen, Ao Zhan, Duanmu Qing, Shen Linshu—four top-tier Tianjiao from four major sects, plus Xiao Ruohan, another first-rate Tianjiao. There were probably a dozen of them...
They were all "enemies."
And this was just the Earth-tier Lunjian.
In the later Heaven-tier Lunjian, the situation would be even more challenging, with enemies everywhere.
Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle...
After all this, Mo Hua couldn't help but doubt whether Tai Xu Gate could really take first place in this Lun Jian Conference.
In the eyes of the Tai Xu Gate's sect leader and elders, securing one of the "Big Four" positions might be enough.
No, they might not even dare to hope for one of the "Big Four" positions.
It was a tempting but unattainable dream.
But Mo Hua hadn't said it, but his target had always been first place in the Lunjian.
Only if Tai Xu Gate won first place in the Lunjian would the reward, the Yimu Huichun Array, fall into Tai Xu Gate's hands, and he might have a chance to obtain it.
Mo Hua's gaze darkened.
This array was related to his master's fate.
It might even be the array that could bring his master back to life.
The name "Yimu Huichun" might seem ordinary, and others might not know its value.
But Mo Hua was clear: if this array could save his master, it would mean that it possessed the power to reverse yin and yang, defy death, trace causality, and unravel the mysteries of heaven.
To Mo Hua's intuition, this was undoubtedly an ancient and terrifying array.
He had to get his hands on it, no matter what.
He had to save his master, no matter what...
"Master..."
Mo Hua sighed, hands behind his head, and looked up at the night sky, reminiscing about the past, feeling a deep sense of melancholy.
His master's face and the words of advice echoed in Mo Hua's mind.
But Mo Hua only allowed himself to think about it for a moment, fearing that the subtle workings of fate might be detected. So, he only dared to think of his master occasionally, not frequently.
Mo Hua closed his eyes and meditated for a moment, banishing thoughts of his master, and then focused his attention, silently resolving:
"I have to win..."
"Even if the current situation is murky, I must try my best to win every match, accumulate every victory point, and wait for the critical turning point to arrive..."
Mo Hua had a vague premonition.
This time, the Lunjian wouldn’t be simple.
Something major was bound to happen...
Before that, he had to win as many matches as he could.
...
The Lunjian Conference continued.
Mo Hua’s next opponent was a top Tianjiao from the Qian Dao Sect.
Not Shen Linshu, but still not to be underestimated.
The format of the Lunjian was still an offensive and defensive battle.
This time, however, it was the Tai Xu Gate on the offensive, and the Qian Dao Sect on the defensive.
On the day of the Lunjian, the crowd at Lundao Mountain was dense, with more cultivators coming to watch the match.
The Tai Xu Gate had suffered a string of losses, disappointing everyone.
But in the last match, Mo Hua had demonstrated his prowess with array formations, defeating the Tianjian Gate. The Tai Xu Gate suddenly sprang back to life, making the upcoming Lunjian all the more exciting.
Of course, the criticism didn’t stop, especially towards Mo Hua:
"Since it’s the Lunjian Conference, relying on array formations is missing the point and goes against the spirit of Lunjian."
"Mo Hua, if he had any sense of shame, should abandon array formations and face other sects’ Tianjiaos in a fair fight."
"Why don’t you go tell him yourself?"
"Even if he acknowledges you, I’ll admit I’m wrong."
"Not using his skills makes him a coward?"
"Is Lundao Mountain not going to do anything about it?"
"As long as he doesn’t break the rules, what can Lundao Mountain do?"
"Just wait and see, Mo Hua will definitely rely on array formations again."
"What array will he use this time?"
"How would I know? That kid is as cunning as a fox. Who knows what array formations he’s learned?"
"Why rush? Once the Lunjian starts, he’ll draw the array, and we’ll see."
...
As the crowd outside buzzed with discussion, the Lunjian finally began.
The Qian Dao Sect disciples defended the city.
The Tai Xu Gate split into two groups and began their assault.
This was no different from a typical siege, except for one thing: Mo Hua didn’t participate.
As soon as the Lunjian started, he ran to a small hill and started drawing an array formation in secret.
Everyone was curious about what array he would draw.
More intriguing was his technique and how quickly he could complete the array.
But Mo Hua, upon reaching the small hill, simply took out a blanket and covered himself with it.
From the platform, all the spectators could see was a “caterpillar” wrapped in a blanket.
This infuriated the watching cultivators, who shouted in anger:
"Miser!"
"Despicable!"
"Judging a gentleman by a scoundrel’s standards."
"Can’t even let us see him draw an array?"
...
Some of the array elders holding the “Mo Ying Tu” sighed, looking helpless.
The Lunjian Conference was meant to showcase one’s strength to the great families, sects, and countless cultivators.
Other Tianjiaos were eager to display their prowess in front of everyone.
The platform was the biggest stage.
But even the ancestors who created the platform probably didn’t expect someone to act in the opposite way, fearing that their skills would be seen.
Drawing an array while hiding under a blanket was something no ordinary Tianjiao would do.
They had their pride.
But Mo Hua was different. He didn’t care about his reputation.
Winning was everything; pride was worth nothing.
Through previous Lunjian matches, he had clearly understood one thing:
There were always people watching him in the arena, trying to find ways to target him.
The more his skills were exposed, the more he would be targeted.
Hiding some of his cards for as long as possible could mean an extra win.
So, he had to hide them, no matter what.
He would use any means necessary to do so.
Even if it meant hiding under a blanket.
Often, the simplest methods had the most surprising effects.
At least the blanket kept everyone guessing.
With the blanket covering him, Mo Hua secretly finished drawing the array, then lingered a bit longer to throw off any guesses about his true speed. Only then did he put away the blanket, tuck the array, and run towards the Qian Dao Sect’s “city.”
He didn’t care about other sects.
But he had a grudge against the Qian Dao Sect.
Back then, he couldn’t even enter their sect’s gate.
Today, he would blow up their “city gates” in the Lunjian!
Mo Hua’s face lit up with excitement.
It wasn’t that he was petty; it was the situation that forced his hand.
(End of Chapter)
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