Chapter 611: Sword of Divine Consciousness
Chapter 611: Sword of Divine Consciousness
It was afternoon, and the bright sunshine bathed the lush mountains in a golden glow.
A moss-covered stone staircase wound its way up to the peak.
Mo Hua ascended the steps with light, quick footsteps, humming a cheerful tune.
However, when he reached the dilapidated temple, he paused, taken aback.
"Nobody's here?"
The temple was empty, and even with his divine consciousness, he could not sense the presence of the mountain god.
Mo Hua narrowed his eyes, noticing the moldy buns and dried fruits on the offering table, clearly left there for quite some time.
There was no meat, only a full cup that contained not wine but rainwater that had collected in the eaves during a mountain shower. The water was clear, but the bottom of the cup was cloudy with dust.
It was a pitiful sight.
Mo Hua felt a twinge of sympathy.
What a miserable mountain god.
"Huang Shan Jun?"
Mo Hua called out several times, but his voice echoed back to him in the empty temple, leaking through the broken roof and dissipating into the lonely mountains.
"Not at home?"
Mo Hua frowned, feeling a sense of dejection as if he had traveled far to visit a friend, only to find that they were not there.
"That's odd..."
Where could a mountain god go? Had he abandoned his temple?
Mo Hua looked around, but the temple was small and dilapidated, and no matter where he looked, he could not find Huang Shan Jun.
Mo Hua narrowed his eyes, and suddenly, he sensed a stir in the few strands of pale golden blood essence that he had refined from the "marrow" of the sheep-horned leader among the group of demon leaders.
Realization dawned on Mo Hua, and following the pull of the pale golden divine consciousness blood, he walked out of the temple and circled around to the back, where he found a small dog statue in the corner.
The statue was gray and dirty, its head drooping as it lay in the grass, not daring to reveal any signs of life.
Mo Hua squatted in front of the small dog statue, his large eyes silently observing it.
The little dog didn't dare move a muscle.
"Hey—"
Mo Hua said softly.
For some reason, the statue's eyes seemed to reflect panic.
"Mountain Lord—"
Mo Hua called out again in a low voice.
The mud-sculpted little dog wished it could close its eyes.
"You're a mountain god, hiding in a little dog statue. Aren't you ashamed...?" Mo Hua remarked.
The little dog felt ashamed and angry, but it still didn't react.
Mo Hua's expression turned slightly unhappy, and he held up three fingers. "I'm only going to count to three. If you don't come out, I won't be polite anymore..."
"Three..."
"Two..."
Before he could finish counting, smoke curled from the little dog statue, and Huang Shan Jun's narrow face appeared.
Noticing Mo Hua's less-than-friendly expression, Huang Shan Jun smiled warmly and amiably.
"Oh dear... I didn't realize it was you, my friend. There's not much to do in the mountains, so I was sunbathing and accidentally fell asleep. Please don't take offense..."
Mo Hua looked up at the sky and asked curiously, "But this place is shaded. How can you sunbathe here?"
Huang Shan Jun was taken aback for a moment before forcing a smile. "Sunbathing in the shade is both warm and cool..."
Fearing that Mo Hua would ask more questions, he quickly changed the subject. "Did you come to visit me because you have something to tell me?"
Indeed, Mo Hua's attention was diverted.
"Mhm." Mo Hua nodded, about to speak when he glanced at Huang Shan Jun and asked out of curiosity, "Are you going to stay in this little dog statue forever?"
Huang Shan Jun thought, "If only I had a choice..."
"If not for hiding from you..."
As this thought crossed Huang Shan Jun's mind, he paused, then asked, "How did you know I was 'hiding'? I mean, sunbathing?"
He had "lowered" himself, even forsaking his dignity to hide in this tiny mud-sculpted dog, concealing his true nature as a mountain god, and yet he had still been found out...
"I sensed it," Mo Hua replied.
"Sensed it?"
"Mhm," Mo Hua nodded. "I felt like you were here, so I came to look, and indeed, you were here!"
Huang Shan Jun's scalp tingled.
It was over; he couldn't escape this little disaster...
It was too outrageous...
Smart kids weren't scary. The scariest were those who were not only smart but also had a mysterious, otherworldly air about them.
There was no defense against them; they were unpredictable!
Huang Shan Jun sighed and slowly emerged from the little dog statue. He gestured invitingly and said, "Please, come to my humble abode, and let's catch up."
Thus, with the mountain god leading the way, Mo Hua swaggered into the dilapidated temple.
Huang Shan Jun transformed into wisps of blue smoke and took residence in the central mountain god statue on the offering table.
Mo Hua sat on the edge of the offering table, chatting with Huang Shan Jun "shoulder to shoulder."
However, Huang Shan Jun seemed ill at ease, so Mo Hua asked, "I'm not going to 'eat' you. Why are you so afraid?"
Huang Shan Jun laughed, "Hehe," but his thoughts were elsewhere: "I wonder if he believes me..."
Nevertheless, he maintained his cheerful expression and said, "My dear friend, you are as smart as they come, with a pure and clear heart that sets you apart from the mundane. I'm honored to befriend you. Why would I hide from you?"
Of course, Mo Hua didn't believe him. He looked at Huang Shan Jun curiously and asked, "Mountain Lord, were you very powerful in the past?"
Huang Shan Jun was taken aback, his smile fading as he asked, "How did you know?"
"I guessed," Mo Hua replied.
Huang Shan Jun shook his head. "Do I look powerful to you now?"
Mo Hua's eyes were clear as he looked at Huang Shan Jun, and his voice was calm. "Ten zhang tall, with seven-chi-long claws, brown fur, an aura that blotted out the mountains, thick qi, eyes soaked in blood, and boundless malevolence and evil intentions surrounding your body..."
Huang Shan Jun's expression turned fierce, but when his gaze met Mo Hua's profound eyes, his face paled again.
"You... you..."
Mo Hua blinked and whispered, "Were you really like that in the past?"
Huang Shan Jun's expression was bitter. "How did you know?"
"I dreamed about a mountain god who resembled a giant yellow rat demon, and I guessed it might be you, so I came to ask," Mo Hua explained.
Huang Shan Jun's expression was complex, and after much hesitation, he sighed. "That was in the past..."
"Indeed, in the past, I enjoyed the offerings of my worshippers. My divine consciousness was powerful, covering the mountains and rivers. I took on a divine form, standing at the peak of this realm, nearly unmatched under the laws of heaven."
"But mountain gods are like humans. Once pride and arrogance take root, they become susceptible to evil influences."
"As for what happened later, you already know... Sigh, it's not worth revisiting. Now, I'm like a tiger fallen from grace..."
"... bullied by you?" Mo Hua asked.
Mo Hua frowned, his mind conjuring up images of Huang Shan Jun's once majestic and awe-inspiring demeanor, and then looking at his current pathetic state, he still found it hard to believe.
Huang Shan Jun seemed to read Mo Hua's thoughts and sighed, "Most beings in this world, be they human, demon, or deity, are but puppets of power, fame, authority, and status."
"Humans are especially susceptible to this."
"A beggar who becomes an emperor takes on the aura of royalty with the power and influence he gains;”
"An emperor who becomes a beggar loses his dignity and can only beg for scraps."
"Those who truly transcend worldly desires and are unfettered by power and fame, their minds set apart from the ordinary, are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns..."
"And so it is with me, a mountain god."
"Back when my divine consciousness was strong and my power boundless, I was naturally awe-inspiring..."
"But what was awe-inspiring was not me, but the mighty force of heaven and earth that I channeled as its 'puppet'..."
"Later, when my cultivation was severed by a sword, and I lost that mighty power, I was left with only myself, a pathetic little mountain god, forced to hide my tail and scrape by as you see me now..."
Mo Hua's expression was a mix of surprise and pity, feeling both admiration for Huang Shan Jun's insight and sympathy for his plight.
Huang Shan Jun squirmed under Mo Hua's "sympathetic" gaze and said, "You didn't come here just to rub salt in my wounds, did you...?"
Mo Hua nodded, "Of course, I'm not that idle..."
Huang Shan Jun's eyelids twitched, his expression resigned.
This kid, with his innocent face, always had a way with words that struck right at the heart...
Huang Shan Jun sighed, "Go ahead and ask what you want. Get it over with so you can leave."
He wanted to send Mo Hua away as soon as possible.
Mo Hua promptly asked, "Can you teach me the sword technique that defeated you, the one that transforms divine consciousness into a sword?"
Huang Shan Jun mumbled, "I already told you, I don't know how to..."
Mo Hua shook his head, "Even if you don't know how to use it, your divine consciousness is so strong, and you've personally experienced being slashed by it. You must understand the principles behind this divine consciousness sword technique, and you probably also know how it's cultivated!"
"I don't know..."
"Yes, you do!" Mo Hua's eyes shone with conviction, his tone assertive.
Huang Shan Jun felt a headache coming on as he was stared at by Mo Hua's perceptive eyes.
He felt that in his entire life, he had never met such a troublesome little ancestor...
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you then..."
Huang Shan Jun conceded.
It was better to just tell him and be done with it. If he didn't, who knew how long this little ancestor would keep pestering him...
Huang Shan Jun seemed to recall something, his expression turning solemn and his gaze intense as he said, "This sword manual is named..."
"... the Great Void Divine Consciousness Sword Manual!"
Huang Shan Jun's voice faltered as he finished, and he glanced at Mo Hua, only to see that he didn't seem surprised. He paused, "You already knew?"
"Yes!" Mo Hua replied.
"How did you know?" Huang Shan Jun asked, his eyes widening.
Mo Hua jumped off the offering table and spread his arms, showing Huang Shan Jun the white and black robe he wore, with its elegant and refined design, "Guess what sect this robe belongs to?"
Huang Shan Jun stared at it for a moment and then his eyes widened in surprise, "Don't tell me it's..."
Mo Hua smiled, "The robe of the Great Void Sect, the 'Great Void' in the 'Great Void Divine Consciousness Sword Manual'.”
Huang Shan Jun's heart sank.
He had thought Mo Hua's robe looked familiar, and now he realized it was indeed the robe of the Great Void Sect.
This little ancestor wore the robe of the same sect as the one who had defeated him!
However, Mo Hua's robe was the simplest disciple's robe, with a plainer design and more black than white, unlike the nearly all-white robe of his opponent, which was why he hadn't recognized it earlier...
Huang Shan Jun's gaze turned plaintive, "You're a disciple of the Great Void Sect, so why don't you just learn it from your sect? Why ask me?"
"My sect doesn't have it, I can't find it..."
Mo Hua replied, and then added, "Or maybe it's because my cultivation is too low, and I don't have the necessary access privileges yet."
Huang Shan Jun remained silent, not wanting to divulge the information.
Mo Hua continued, "Come on, tell me. Consider it a favor you owe me."
"What use would my favor be to you...?"
Huang Shan Jun thought to himself, but his words remained honest, "Alright, I'll tell you..."
Mo Hua jumped back onto the offering table and sat cross-legged, listening intently.
Huang Shan Jun sighed, "As a mountain god, my understanding of divine consciousness is different from that of ordinary cultivators, so my insight into it is deeper..."
"Back when I fought that sword cultivator from the Great Void Sect, even though his sword energy slashed me to pieces, I still managed to understand some of the mysteries of that sword technique..."
"The sword technique that transforms divine consciousness into a sword is different from ordinary sword techniques."
"Ordinary sword techniques infuse spiritual energy into a spiritual sword, condensing it into 'sword qi' to attack the enemy with fierce sword energy."
"The divine consciousness sword is different; it requires the condensation of divine consciousness on top of the sword qi, forming an intangible yet infinitely mysterious 'sword intent'..."
"One must use sword qi as the foundation and temper their spiritual aura with sword intent to unleash immense power, capable of cutting through both physical objects and intangible divine beings!"
"In simple terms..."
"Ordinary sword cultivation involves forging a sword and cultivating sword qi."
"The divine consciousness sword, however, takes sword cultivation a step further by cultivating sword intent on top of sword qi."
"Both are indispensable. Only by cultivating sword qi to its peak can one cultivate sword intent, and with sword intent empowering sword qi, it becomes invincible, capable of slaying all foes!"
A hint of arrogance flashed in Huang Shan Jun's eyes:
"If not for this Great Void Divine Consciousness Sword Manual, which allows one to transform the tangible sword into an intangible one to slay divine beings, perhaps no one in that realm could have defeated me back then..."
Mo Hua mused, "Then wouldn't you have become a 'dao evil'?"
Huang Shan Jun's heart chilled, and he was taken aback, his expression incredulous, "You... how do you know that?!"
Mo Hua nodded, "I've seen how dao evils are cultivated...”
"And I've killed dao evils too! But talking about such things is a bit taboo, so it's better not to mention it..."
Despite this, Huang Shan Jun still drew in a cold breath.
He felt more and more that this little ancestor was not someone to be trifled with.
Huang Shan Jun quickly put away his arrogant demeanor.
He couldn't boast anymore.
If he kept boasting and this little ancestor saw through another lie, things could get tricky...
Mo Hua didn't notice the subtle change in Huang Shan Jun's expression and was lost in thought about the divine consciousness sword:
"One must first cultivate sword qi to its peak and then transform it from tangible to intangible, cultivating sword intent. With sword intent fused into sword qi, one can cultivate the 'Great Void Divine Consciousness Sword Manual'..."
Mo Hua couldn't hide his disappointment.
"You're an array master. If you don't draw out an array, how can you understand the principles of arrays?" Mo Hua countered.
"Isn't it the same concept...?"
"The better your sword cultivation, the more fierce your sword energy, and the purer and more powerful the sword intent you cultivate will be..." Huang Shan Jun explained.
"How can you transform it solely with divine consciousness? Is your divine consciousness stronger than a sword cultivator's sword energy?"
"And how strong can your divine consciousness be, anyway?" Mo Hua asked, curious.
"Is sixteen strands enough?" Mo Hua asked in a soft voice.
Huang Shan Jun scoffed, "Sixteen strands? That's nothing."
As Huang Shan Jun was about to say something else, he paused and turned to look at Mo Hua, "How many do you have?"
"Sixteen strands..." Mo Hua replied.
Huang Shan Jun's expression froze...
Sixteen strands... How could that be? What is your age and cultivation level?
At the early Qi Refining stage, how could you possibly have sixteen strands of divine consciousness?
Could it be that you've consumed some kind of spirit-enhancing pill?
Huang Shan Jun's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted his gaze, softening his voice as he asked, "Sixteen strands of divine consciousness is indeed strong, but if you truly want to manifest a sword with divine consciousness, it's still not enough..."
"Then how many do I need?" Mo Hua asked, intrigued.
"At least... at the Golden Core stage, twenty strands or more..." Huang Shan Jun replied, lowering his initial estimate. "And even then, it might not be possible."
"Moreover, reaching the Golden Core stage doesn't guarantee success..."
"After all, manifesting a sword with divine consciousness involves transforming sword energy into sword intent, and then manifesting the sword intent as sword energy. It's not simply a matter of manifesting 'divine consciousness' as sword energy..."
Mo Hua nodded, understanding. "Alright, I get it."
He decided to give it a try anyway.
When he reached twenty strands of divine consciousness and formed his Golden Core, he would test if he could manifest a sword with his divine consciousness alone.
In the meantime, he would continue to gather information within the sect about the authentic "Great Void Divine Consciousness Sword Manual."
After all, Huang Shan Jun's explanation was from the perspective of a "victim," and it might not be the complete and accurate method for manifesting a sword with divine consciousness. It could only serve as a reference.
Mo Hua thought about this and then said with a hint of reproach, "Last time I asked, why didn't you tell me about this?"
Huang Shan Jun's expression became complex as he replied, "If I told you, wouldn't you just practice it and then come back to cut me down?"
Mo Hua paused, realizing the truth in Huang Shan Jun's words, and then took out some wine and meat from his storage bag.
It was customary to bring gifts when visiting a friend.
"I bought these especially for you..."
There was pork, beef, fruits, pastries, and wine...
For a moment, Huang Shan Jun was stunned, and a warm feeling surged within him...
For so many years, he had grown accustomed to eating plain buns and wild fruits, drinking rainwater, and receiving no offerings. He had become thin and haggard...
But Mo Hua... this kid...
He might be a bit mischievous, ruthless, and unreasonable at times, but deep down, he had a good heart...
Huang Shan Jun felt a sense of comfort.
Mo Hua placed the wine and meat on the offering table.
The offering table was used for sacrifices, and the food and wine would be divided into two portions.
One portion remained physical, while the other transformed into a spiritual offering, similar to divine consciousness, for the mountain god or other deities to enjoy.
The meat that the mountain god consumed would turn pale and lose its flavor, and the wine would become insipid and watery.
Mo Hua arranged the offerings one by one, but when he placed down a lamb leg, Huang Shan Jun's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, "No lamb!"
Mo Hua was taken aback, "No lamb?"
Huang Shan Jun nodded, his face a little pale. "I don't eat lamb..."
Mo Hua found this a bit strange but didn't probe further.
It was important to respect others' dietary preferences.
Just like humans, mountain gods could have their likes and dislikes.
However, Mo Hua didn't want the food to go to waste...
So, he kept the lamb leg for himself and started eating it.
In the dilapidated temple, Huang Shan Jun and Mo Hua sat together, enjoying the meal.
Huang Shan Jun savored the spiritual meat and fine wine, but his mind was elsewhere, and he kept glancing at Mo Hua from the corner of his eye.
Mo Hua sat on the offering table, hugging the lamb leg and gnawing on it, thoroughly enjoying his meal.
"He's eating the meat that I can't bring myself to eat..." Huang Shan Jun's eyes flickered, and he felt a shiver run down his spine.
Somehow, he felt that in the future, Mo Hua would do something truly terrifying...
...
After they finished eating, Mo Hua bid farewell to Huang Shan Jun.
The concept of the Great Void Divine Consciousness Sword Manual became clearer in his mind.
Divine consciousness, sword energy, and secret manuals.
There were three aspects to focus on.
"Reaching twenty strands of divine consciousness will take quite some time..."
Twenty strands of divine consciousness and forming a Golden Core would undoubtedly be a major hurdle, and he wondered what kind of bottleneck he would face along the way.
According to Huang Shan Jun, once he reached twenty strands, he could attempt to manifest a sword with his divine consciousness.
Even if he couldn't succeed, it was worth trying.
Then there was sword energy...
When he had free time, he could also cultivate sword energy. He didn't need to become extremely proficient, but it would be beneficial to lay a foundation in sword cultivation for the sake of manifesting a sword with divine consciousness.
Lastly, there was the authentic Great Void Divine Consciousness Sword Manual.
As he gradually accumulated more mission points, opened more privileges, got to know more disciples, and gathered more information, he hoped to find a way to obtain the manual ahead of time...
Although it was still early, it was better to be prepared.
Mo Hua nodded to himself, feeling determined.
"I need to take it one step at a time..."
For now, his priority was still array formation!
After returning to the sect, Mo Hua continued his usual routine of cultivation, classes, studying array formations, and tempering his divine consciousness.
During their days off, he would follow Senior Sister Murong and the others on missions to earn more mission points.
After much hard work, Mo Hua finally accumulated over 800 mission points. He went to the Merit Hall and exchanged them for what he had longed for—a second-grade, sixteen-strand "Bonfire Primordial Magnetic Array."
This array was a secret formation that combined the Eight Trigrams with thunder and magnetism.
It was a confidential array, and not many disciples in the Great Void Sect, or even in the entire Qian Xuezhou realm, were proficient in it.
However, to Mo Hua, it was extremely important.
Mo Hua carefully unfurled the array diagram, feeling as if he were opening a new door to the world of arrays...
(End of Chapter)
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