Chapter 518: Farewell
Chapter 518: Farewell
Mo Hua was ignorant about the concept of karma and destiny.
The only thing he remembered was a phrase:
"A steadfast Dao heart is impervious to all evil."
As long as he focused on studying arrays, comprehending the Great Dao, and tempering his divine sense, enhancing it to the utmost limit, his thoughts would become clear, and he would gain insight into the principles of all things. With that, he would have nothing to fear from any malevolent beings.
Mo Hua continued his cultivation and study of arrays as usual.
However, the karma debt seemed far from over.
Occasionally, the shadow of the Corpse King would inexplicably appear in his sea of consciousness, its gaze bloodshot and its expression cruel as it stared at Mo Hua.
This presence was vastly different from the green-faced imp or the spiritual manifestation of the Zhang family's ancestor.
It seemed to exist yet was also illusory.
It appeared real yet was also deceptive.
It didn't resemble a true spiritual sense; as Mr. Zhuang had said, it was more like a lingering karmic obsession residing in the past.
The shadow of the Corpse King appeared repeatedly.
At first, Mo Hua was startled and worried, but then he recalled Mr. Zhuang's words:
"Just maintain a calm mind, uphold your Dao heart, and there's no need to worry or fear. In fact, don't even think about it..."
With that, Mo Hua stopped paying it any mind.
The Corpse King in his sea of consciousness was nothing more than a copper corpse.
He had killed copper corpses before.
He had even "devoured" the Zhang family's ancestor, although it had been an unfair battle with many against one, and now, he was even stronger than before.
Currently, his divine sense had reached the pinnacle of thirteen strands, a far cry from his previous self.
Even in a direct confrontation, he could subdue the copper corpse that was the incarnation of the Zhang family's ancestor.
Moreover, this Corpse King had been controlled by his Spirit Pivot Array before.
It was under his control when it was "alive".
Even in "death", it couldn't escape his grasp.
Mo Hua didn't know much about karma.
Ignorance is bliss.
Precisely because of his "ignorance", he was "fearless".
And because of his fearlessness, Mo Hua's divine sense was firm, his aura robust, and he didn't put this Corpse King, which exuded the aura of karmic debt, in his eyes.
The Corpse King let out a roar.
Mo Hua frowned and said, "Stop bothering me!"
The Corpse King trembled instinctively after being reprimanded by Mo Hua. Then, it became enraged, its gaze turning ferocious. However, it was truly helpless and could only let out another low growl before retreating unwillingly...
Every few days, the Corpse King would appear in Mo Hua's mind.
But Mo Hua completely ignored it and even looked down on it. Occasionally, he would tell it to scram.
The Corpse King could only glare at him with murderous intent, quietly biding its time.
After that, the Corpse King appeared less frequently...
Mo Hua's sea of consciousness became much calmer.
However, what he didn't know was that his karma and destiny had become much more perilous...
...
With the matter in South Peak City concluded, the Corpse King subdued, Lu Chengyun dead, and the Spirit Pivot Array mastered, it was time to leave.
Before departing, Mo Hua placed the ashes of the previous generations of elders from the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect into a golden-rimmed black jade urn and handed it to Yan Jiaoxun.
Yan Jiaoxun held the urn, his expression agitated.
Then, he sighed and felt ashamed. "This disciple has been incompetent, allowing the sect's elders to meet with such a disaster..."
Yan Jiaoxun's eyes turned red, and tears formed in the corners of his eyes. His emotions were turbulent and took a long time to calm down.
The anger, confusion, hardships, loneliness, and despondency of these years churned in his chest.
Bringing the traitor to justice and recovering the sect's inherited array techniques—these were things he had thought about day and night for so many years.
But he never expected that there would truly be a day when his dreams would come true.
Yan Jiaoxun looked at Mo Hua, feeling both grateful and self-blaming. He couldn't help but sigh,
"I really have to thank you for this..."
Investigating the traitor, uncovering his identity, foiling his schemes, making him pay for his crimes, and consoling the spirits of the sect's elders, including his master—these were things he should have done himself.
Yet, it was Mo Hua who had put an end to this grudge.
Moreover, this matter involved the Lu family, the Corpse Mine, the Corpse King, and even implicated the Dao Court, forcing them to dispatch Dao soldiers to suppress the situation.
Yan Jiaoxun could guess how much danger was involved, even if Mo Hua didn't tell him.
All these dangers should have been borne by himself...
Yet, they had all fallen onto Mo Hua's shoulders instead.
He, as the sect's instructor, had done almost nothing.
Yan Jiaoxun felt ashamed and couldn't help but say, "I, as the instructor, truly have no face to show myself..."
However, Mo Hua shook his head. "Instructor, you've already done a lot."
Yan Jiaoxun was taken aback and gently smiled. "You don't have to comfort me..."
But Mo Hua shook his head. "I'm not trying to comfort you. My master once told me that everything in this world has its own karma, and there are laws governing everything."
"Lu Chengyun's punishment and the pacification of the corpse disaster are the virtuous fruits that came from the virtuous causes you planted."
Mo Hua had only recently heard a little about karma from Mr. Zhuang, and now he was applying this knowledge to comfort Yan Jiaoxun.
Yan Jiaoxun frowned. "What does this have to do with me?"
"Of course, it has something to do with you!"
Mo Hua explained earnestly,
"If it weren't for your guidance, I might not have embarked on the path of arrays. If it weren't for your introduction, I wouldn't have been able to take Mr. Zhuang as my master. Without Mr. Zhuang as my teacher, my array skills wouldn't be as good as they are now, and I wouldn't have traveled far and wide in search of arrays."
"Coming to South Peak City was not only for the sake of finding arrays but also to look for you."
"If you weren't in South Peak City, I wouldn't have come here."
"It was because I had a lead on you that I was able to gradually unravel the truth and find out about Zhang Quan, the Walking Corpse Village, the Corpse Mine, and the plots of Lu Chengyun and the Corpse King..."
"Ultimately, I was able to kill Lu Chengyun, subdue the Corpse King, quell the corpse calamity, and retrieve the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect's stolen inheritance."
"Lu Chengyun was killed by the Corpse King, and the Corpse King was controlled by the Spirit Pivot Array."
"So, Lu Chengyun could be said to have died under the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect's inheritance."
"All of these are the cycles of cause and effect."
"If it weren't for your adherence to your beliefs and the virtuous cause you planted by passing on the array techniques, none of this would have happened, and the matter of the Corpse Mine wouldn't have reached today's conclusion..."
Yan Jiaoxun was a little dazed, lost in thought for a long time.
Virtuous causes lead to virtuous effects...
After a long while, he let out a bitter laugh.
"You've always been good with words since you were young."
Moreover, his words were reasonable and convincing, leaving him unable to refute them.
Indeed, it was because he had valued Mo Hua as a child, taught him arrays, and given him an opportunity that Mo Hua was now able to help him so much and resolve the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect's grudge.
Not bearing to see Mo Hua's talent go to waste was perhaps the one thing he had done right in his life.
Instructor Yan felt the knots in his heart slowly unraveling.
His furrowed brows finally smoothed out.
However, this feeling of relief was quickly replaced by a sense of emptiness.
With Lu Chengyun dead and his vengeance fulfilled, he suddenly found himself at a loss.
Mo Hua seemed to understand and asked softly, "Instructor, what do you plan to do with the remains of the elders from the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect?"
Instructor Yan paused, then replied after a moment of contemplation, "The Little Spirit Seclusion Sect is no more, and the mountain gate has been sold. There's no going back... I plan to find a place to build a mausoleum and lay their remains to rest properly. I can pay my respects during festivals..."
And so, he would live out the rest of his life peacefully.
"Where will you build the mausoleum?" Mo Hua asked.
"That..."
Instructor Yan hesitated, as he hadn't decided on a specific location yet.
These days, finding a good piece of land wasn't easy, and it would cost a significant amount of spirit stones.
"Why don't you build it in Tongxian City?" Mo Hua suggested.
"Tongxian City?" Instructor Yan was taken aback.
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, patting his chest confidently. "I know Tongxian City like the back of my hand. Elder Zhou, Elder Yu, Master An, and Master Luo... All the influential cultivators know me to some extent."
"I'll write a letter for you to take back. Once they understand the situation, they will definitely help you."
"Then, you can decide where to bury the elders of the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect."
Instructor Yan was stunned.
Could a single letter really be that helpful?
Your connections must be incredibly solid...
But something didn't add up.
If he remembered correctly, Elder Zhou, Elder Yu, and Master An were not only Foundation Establishment cultivators but also held high positions in Tongxian City.
As for Master Luo, he was a well-respected first-rate array master.
How did Mo Hua become so close with them?
Even if he was a young and promising first-rate array master himself, his network shouldn't be this extensive...
Instructor Yan was lost in thought.
What had happened in Tongxian City during the two to three years he had been away? How had Mo Hua become so influential?
"Instructor?" Mo Hua called out.
Instructor Yan snapped back to reality.
"What do you think?" Mo Hua asked.
Instructor Yan hesitated for a moment before replying, "Tongxian City isn't exactly wealthy, so..."
Mo Hua teased, "Don't worry, Tongxian City is not what it used to be. You'll see when you get there."
Instructor Yan was puzzled but didn't ask further questions.
Given the current situation, burying the elders of the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect in Tongxian City seemed like the best option.
"Alright," Instructor Yan nodded.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he continued, "Instructor, do you want to rebuild the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect?"
Rebuild... the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect? Instructor Yan's heart skipped a beat as he turned to look at Mo Hua, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Of course, this isn't something that can be rushed," Mo Hua explained. "You can start by teaching arrays to rogue cultivators in Tongxian City. Once you have enough disciples, you can slowly establish a new sect..."
"Elder Yu will definitely be willing to help you with this."
"The Dao Court won't be a problem either."
"As for array masters, Master Luo and Elder Qian will support you as well..."
"The only issue is time, as it might take a while. After all, establishing a sect can't be done overnight, and it requires long-term dedication, perhaps even the efforts of several generations..."
"..."
Mo Hua laid out everything clearly.
Instructor Yan's heart was stirred, but he still hesitated, his mind filled with concerns and uncertainties.
Mo Hua continued in a deep voice, "By rebuilding the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect, you can continue the legacy of their array techniques and ensure their prosperity. More disciples will pay respects to the elders in the future..."
Continuing the legacy of their array techniques, ensuring their prosperity, and having more disciples pay respects...
Instructor Yan's heart raced.
The hesitation in his eyes faded, replaced by hope and desire.
Mo Hua had said all he wanted to say.
He knew that Instructor Yan had made up his mind, and there was no need for further words.
Instructor Yan valued his teachers and placed great importance on passing on the knowledge of array techniques.
For so many years, he had never given up on pursuing Lu Chengyun, the traitor. Now that the opportunity to revive the sect and carry on the legacy of array techniques was right in front of him, he wouldn't let it go.
Even if he faced a thousand difficulties, he would find a way to overcome them.
A few days later, Instructor Yan set off on his journey.
He was going back to Tongxian City to find a picturesque place to bury the remains of the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect's elders.
At the same time, the idea of rebuilding the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect and carrying on the legacy of array techniques began to take root in his heart.
Mo Hua gave him many array manuals and shared some of his insights into arrays.
He also provided a detailed breakdown of the Spirit Pivot Array, from the simple to the complex, and from the shallow to the profound, with clear annotations.
This made learning and teaching the array much easier.
Mo Hua also handed over the array diagram to Instructor Yan, who received it with trembling hands.
Additionally, Mo Hua gave him some local specialties from Nan Yue City, as well as travel rations and protective pills, such as Avoid Poison Pills, Dispel Miasma Pills, and Exorcism Pills.
Mo Hua accompanied Instructor Yan all the way to the outskirts of the city.
Along the way, Mo Hua kept giving instructions, "First, you should get your rank assessed..."
"Having a rank will make things much easier."
"There are many of our people in Tongxian City, so getting your rank assessed will be smoother. The Dao Court even provides a special car for transportation..."
"Once you have your rank, you can start working on your Foundation Establishment. Borrowing some spirit stones isn't a big deal... You can find Elder Yu... No, Elder Yu is quite poor. Find Master An instead. The Ans are wealthy, and their young master, An Xiaofu, is also a friend of mine..."
"Once you become a Foundation Establishment cultivator and your spiritual sense reaches twelve strands, you can learn the Spirit Pivot Array."
Instructor Yan felt both amused and touched.
He had gained a lot of insight from Mo Hua's words.
Here he was, an instructor, about to learn about arrays from his own disciple...
Instructor Yan's heart was filled with mixed emotions of sentiment and gratification.
After Mo Hua finished speaking about arrays, he began to talk about other matters:
"When you go back, please send my regards to my father and mother..."
"Tell them I'm doing well, eating and sleeping well, and getting chubby. My studies in arrays are going great, and I haven't encountered any danger, so they don't need to worry..."
"Also, give my regards to Elder Yu, Grandpa Feng, Master Chen, and the uncles and aunties from the Demon Hunter squad..."
"And also to Big Tiger, Big Pillar, and the others..."
"Please send my regards to them as well..."
Mo Hua rattled off a long list of names.
"Alright, alright, slow down..."
Instructor Yan's brain was spinning, and he sighed inwardly. This child had such good relationships with so many people...
Before they knew it, they had reached the city gate.
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and it was time for Mo Hua and Instructor Yan to part ways.
Ironically, when the moment of farewell arrived, they found themselves at a loss for words, and an awkward silence filled the air.
Mo Hua's eyes flickered with reluctance.
Instructor Yan looked deeply into Mo Hua's eyes, as if committing his image to memory.
After a moment, he patted Mo Hua's shoulder and said expectantly:
"Study hard!"
"Mm-hmm!" Mo Hua nodded.
Instructor Yan waved his hand and said gently,
"Alright, take care. I'm off."
He slung his backpack over his shoulder and set off on the mountain path, leaving South Peak City. Occasionally, he turned back to see Mo Hua still standing at the city gate, so he waved again, signaling for Mo Hua to return home. After walking a few steps, he turned around and waved once more...
The wilderness beyond the city was vast and rugged.
Instructor Yan's figure gradually receded into the distance and eventually disappeared among the winding mountain paths.
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn as he gazed at the distant mountains. He bowed deeply once more...
Just like years ago, when he had bid farewell to Instructor Yan at the foot of the mountain in Tongxian City.
...
After parting ways with Mo Hua, Instructor Yan left South Peak City and traveled alone along the mountain path toward the northwest. After passing through several peaks, he arrived at the connected mines.
Within the mines was a massive mining shaft.
At this moment, the miners were hard at work, and amidst the noisy clamor, there was a sense of liveliness.
Although the miners in the shaft worked tirelessly, their faces no longer bore the marks of bitterness, oppression, and pain.
Instead, their eyes held a glimmer of hope.
A hope that through their own efforts, they could live a better life.
This was a stark contrast to the scene Instructor Yan had witnessed when he first arrived.
He couldn't help but recall Mo Hua's words about planting virtuous causes to reap virtuous effects.
Were these mines, perhaps, a manifestation of those virtuous effects?
If he hadn't planted those virtuous causes back then, would the mines still be as they were before, with people living like zombies during the day and zombies living like humans at night, toiling endlessly?
Perhaps he wouldn't have even had the chance to witness this scene...
Instructor Yan felt a sense of relief.
"Yes, I haven't really achieved much..."
He acknowledged his limited abilities and the fact that he couldn't help many people.
He didn't know how to practice magic, and he couldn't kill evil men.
His skills in arrays were average, and he didn't know any profound or large-scale arrays.
All he could do was pass on the knowledge of arrays to those who had the talent for it.
He ensured that those with the potential to benefit others wouldn't be wasted.
As long as he could plant more virtuous causes, he would inevitably reap more virtuous effects...
With this realization, Instructor Yan's eyes lit up.
Although his lifespan was limited, there was still much he could do! He turned back one last time, gazing in the direction of South Peak City.
The mountains obscured his view, and he could no longer see Mo Hua standing at the city gate.
However, Mo Hua's image remained imprinted in his mind.
He was the first and only disciple he had ever taught who had managed to learn the Little Spirit Seclusion Sect's top-tier twelve-pattern Spirit Pivot Array while still at the Qi Refining Realm.
Instructor Yan wondered what achievements this child would attain in the future...
His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
...
Several days later, in South Peak City.
Now that Instructor Yan had left, it was time for Mo Hua to depart as well.
He had already bid farewell to Elder Su, Situ Fang, Qing Lan, and Yang Jishan, among others.
Elder Su was especially reluctant to part with Mo Hua.
He had grown quite fond of Mo Hua and gave him a large assortment of fine teas.
Mo Hua was puzzled, "Are you sure you want to give me all of this?"
"Yes." Elder Su sighed, "Take them. I'll have no one to drink them with if you're gone, and the teas will lose their flavor anyway."
Mo Hua nodded, "Alright, I'll drink less tea then, and you should focus more on your son."
Elder Su's face turned red, "What son?"
Mo Hua looked at him silently.
Elder Su smiled awkwardly and then sighed,
"The past is not worth dwelling on. It only brings debt collectors."
Yet, his eyes couldn't help but show a hint of affection.
Situ Fang and Qing Lan also gave Mo Hua some gifts and invited him,
"Please come to the Situ residence as a guest when you have the time. I'll be sure to treat you to a proper meal."
Mo Hua readily agreed, "Definitely, definitely."
As for Yang Jishan, he couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
Such a talented individual!
It would have been wonderful if he could have joined the Dao Soldier Corps!
The Yang family members shared similar thoughts and sentiments, and Yang Jishan echoed the words of Yang Jiyong,
"If you ever want to join the Dao Soldier Corps in the future, just mention my name, and we'll take care of you!"
Mo Hua smiled and thanked him, "Thank you, Uncle Yang!"
With everything prepared, Mo Hua, along with his junior martial brother, junior martial sister, Kui Lao, and Mr. Zhuang, set off on their journey in a carriage pulled by Daba, the white beast. The rhythmic hoof beats marked the beginning of a new chapter.
The road was bumpy, but the carriage ride was smooth and stable.
Mo Hua asked, "Master, where are we headed next?"
"Southward."
"South?"
"Yes." Mr. Zhuang nodded, "It's about time."
He looked at Mo Hua, his eyes filled with anticipation, "It's time for you to build your foundation..."
(End of Chapter)
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