Chapter 615: Master of All Arts
Chapter 615: Master of All Arts
Qian Xuezhou, one of the twelve factions of the Zongmen sect, possessed a formidable secret art passed down through the ages: the Duan Jin Sword Manual!
Mo Hua gently rubbed the jade slip, his heart filled with excitement. He immediately used his divine sense to scrutinize its contents.
Inscribed on the jade slip was a comprehensive and authentic record of the sword manual, the Duan Jin Sword Art. It encompassed three major categories of sword cultivation:
The Method of Sword Qi Cultivation
The Art of Sword Weapon Forging
The Technique of Controlling the Sword with Divine Sense
Mo Hua was astonished.
This was indeed the genuine inner door legacy of the Duan Jin Sword Art from the Duan Jin Gate.
No wonder it was so powerful...
He wondered how Boss Jiang had managed to steal it.
As Mo Hua pondered, he gave the jade slip a cursory glance before keeping it away. There was a lot of information to digest, and he decided to study it thoroughly when he had more time.
There was another jade slip, sealed with unstable magnetic patterns, and he wondered what it contained.
Initially, Mo Hua had thought that the two Duan Jin jade slips were a two-part series, both containing the sword manual. But now, he suspected otherwise.
The unsealed jade slip already provided a complete inheritance of the sword art. Therefore, the other jade slip must hold something different.
"Could it be another legacy of the Duan Jin Gate?" Mo Hua wondered, his curiosity piqued. He focused his attention on unraveling the seal of the other jade slip.
What surprised Mo Hua was that while the two jade slips looked identical in shape, the sealing patterns on them were vastly different.
One bore traditional sealing patterns, characteristic of those used by the sect.
The other, however, was obscure and unconventional, as if it belonged to an entirely different lineage of cultivators. Even the usage habits of the secondary lightning patterns were peculiar.
This was quite unlike the collection of secondary lightning patterns that Mo Hua had quietly accumulated over time.
Mo Hua had no choice but to take out another jade slip and start categorizing the secondary lightning patterns used by these unorthodox cultivators.
He had a feeling that although this was his first encounter with this type of secondary lightning pattern, it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Since that was the case, he needed to be prepared. He decided to collect and study every stroke of their secondary lightning patterns.
He wouldn't go into a battle unprepared.
However, because he had to start from scratch—inferring, categorizing, and deciphering—the process was a lengthy one.
After his annual leave, Mo Hua spent another half a month before he could, through his relentless efforts and a stroke of luck, "accidentally" deduce the sealing pattern for the other Duan Jin jade slip.
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief and then, filled with anticipation, used his divine sense to examine the jade slip.
The sealing method was intricate, and the unsealing pattern was unconventional.
Surely, this jade slip contained an extraordinary legacy or some "top-secret" information.
But as he read the contents, Mo Hua was bewildered:
"March 7th...
"Kidnapped someone, already sold. Earned 800,000 spirit stones.
"I'm a great brother, so I'll give 100,000 to the gang and keep 700,000 for myself.
"To prevent dissent, I'll tell them we only got 120,000, and I'll take 20,000...
"The brothers call me Big Bro, and they mean it."
...
This was...
Mo Hua frowned.
Some sort of diary?
Who keeps a diary in the cultivation world?
Was Boss Jiang eccentric? And he even recorded the distribution of loot...
I really thought this was some precious legacy. What a letdown.
Mo Hua was disappointed.
But since he had gone through the trouble of unsealing it, he might as well read on...
...
"March 28th...
"Old Sixth slipped up and leaked information. He's being hunted by the Daotingsi.
"Can't let one person bring disaster upon so many brothers...
"Old Sixth is dead...
"I killed him, and it breaks my heart.
"But Old Sixth probably died without regrets...
"He understands my good intentions, and he won't blame me..."
...
"April 1st...
"Old Fourth suspects me..."
...
"April 10th...
"Old Fourth found out about my private stash of spirit stones.
"He wants half.
"We were once brothers, but his greed disappoints me.
"With tears in my eyes, I killed him...
"But I didn't forget our past. I gave his mistress and his illegitimate child some spirit stones as consolation. The other brothers are grateful, saying I'm a man of loyalty and righteousness...
"They understand me, and I'm comforted..."
...
"May 4th...
"Lost two brothers but recruited three new ones...
"These three seem clever. Wonder how long they'll last as brothers."
...
"July 12th...
"Lost four brothers. It pains my heart..."
...
"Sigh, it's hard to build something in this world, and it's hard to keep brothers together..."
...
"Setbacks in business, brothers' morale is low...
"The brothers aren't putting in effort. We're not capturing enough targets, not earning enough spirit stones. Golden Core is still out of reach, and my heart is anxious."
...
The latter part was smudged, with fragmented sentences:
"Market's bad..."
"Daotingsi bullies, all of them!"
"Damn that Gu Changhui! Damn him!"
"If I become a Golden Core one day, I'll use Gu Changhui's blood to offer sacrifice to my Duan Jin Sword..."
...
"Killed another expert today, how exhilarating...
"The Duan Jin Sword Manual is indeed the supreme art of the Duan Jin Gate. So far, no one has survived under this sword art...
"No wonder the Duan Jin Gate treasured this manual so much that they refused to teach it to me back then...
"The sword qi of the Duan Jin Sword never misses, and it demands lives...
"When this sword is drawn, golden light fills the world, and none can escape its deadly strike...
"I really want to see who can survive under this sword...
"It's a pity that Gu Changhui is a Golden Core cultivator. The gap in our cultivation is too vast, or else I would have let him taste the power of this sword art..."
...
"Made 200,000 spirit stones..."
"Lost two brothers..."
"Brothers are so unreliable..."
...
"September 3rd, a big deal...
The rest was heavily smudged, as if it had all been scratched out. Mo Hua continued reading:
"Mr. Tu doesn't allow me to speak of it, so I dare not record it...
"I only know that if we succeed, we can even achieve transcendence..."
The rest was also scratched out.
"September 3rd, a lucky day."
"Things didn't go as planned..."
"Damn..."
"September 12th..."
"It turned out well. The other groups of cultivators all perished, and our group, the weakest and most inconspicuous, actually succeeded..."
"I, Jiang Jing Tian, am blessed with heavenly fortune. Achieving the Golden Core stage is within reach."
"Mister Tu's final instructions were to deliver the...'goods'...to the outskirts of Qingzhou City, where someone in black clothing will be waiting to transport them to the Temple. We must ensure nothing goes awry..."
"Qingzhou City outskirts, someone will be waiting, a temple!"
"Must remember this!"
...
"September 14th..."
"On the way, we came across a broken temple in the desolate mountains and picked up a 'side job'. It was a simple-minded boy, not worth mentioning..."
...
"September 20th..."
"Today is the last day of our mission. Before setting off, I specially consulted the almanac..."
"Auspicious: Traveling, seeing off, cremation, opening a box, meeting friends, breaking ground, and preparing the deceased for burial..."
"Inauspicious: Speaking ill omens, lighting a stove, flying with a sword..."
"Traveling and seeing others off are both auspicious. All endeavors are favorable..."
"It's a good day."
...
The diary ends on this "good day".
After that, Boss Jiang set off, and there were no more entries...
Mo Hua flipped through the diary again, hoping to find more information related to the kidnapping and sale of "Yu'er", but unfortunately, there was little else beyond what he already knew...
Additionally, there were no mentions of family wealth, secret treasures, or legacies.
Mo Hua sighed, feeling disappointed in Boss Jiang.
This diary held no value at all.
Mo Hua could only put the "diary" away for now and take out the Duan Jin Sword Manual to study once more...
Before learning the sword manual, he had to consider one thing.
He couldn't afford to be pursued by the Duan Jin Sect.
While the sword manual was exceptional, it was, after all, the legacy of the Duan Jin Sect.
If they found out he had secretly learned it, they might try to kill him, which would be troublesome.
Even if the Duan Jin Sect didn't try to kill him, they were narrow-minded and might not allow him to use it. In that case, learning it would be pointless...
Mo Hua flipped through the sword manual again, studying the methods of sword cultivation. It was then that he realized he had been overthinking things.
Even if they allowed him to learn it, this sword manual was something he might never be able to master...
Mo Hua had taken sword cultivation classes before, and he knew that sword cultivators could be categorized into several types:
One type focused solely on cultivating sword qi.
They refined their spiritual energy into sword qi, projecting it outward to attack enemies from a distance, similar to the sword cultivators among elementalists.
Uncle Zhang Luan most likely cultivated this type of sword qi, and his should be the water-attributed sword qi.
Another type was similar to physical cultivators who wielded sword weapons.
They transformed their spiritual energy into force and channeled it into their swords, relying on the sword's might to battle enemies in close quarters.
Senior Brother Ouyang Feng probably cultivated this type of sword technique.
The last type fused sword qi with the sword weapon, infusing the sword with condensed sword qi and then controlling it with their divine sense to kill enemies.
This was a sword cultivation method that combined the might of sword qi and the sword as one.
In other words, it was the type of sword art recorded in the Duan Jin Sword Manual.
Each of these three sword cultivation methods had its strengths and weaknesses.
However, in terms of power, the Duan Jin Sword Manual's method, which fully unleashed the might of sword qi and the sword's edge, was undoubtedly the most lethal.
The problem was that most sword cultivators began their training from a young age, gradually learning to condense sword qi.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, had not cultivated sword qi before, and the sword qi he could condense was faint and scattered.
Moreover, his spiritual energy was weak, resulting in weak sword qi.
The Golden Spirit Sword used in the Duan Jin Sword Manual required special forging, which Mo Hua couldn't accomplish.
Sword qi cultivation, sword weapon forging, and sword control techniques.
Among these three aspects, the only one Mo Hua might excel at was "sword control" due to his strong divine sense.
However, without sharp sword qi and a superior spiritual sword, there would be no "sword" for him to control...
Mo Hua sighed.
"I'll figure something out..."
He could slowly cultivate his sword qi over time, gradually improving.
He could also save up spirit stones or merit points to gather the materials and find someone to forge a spiritual sword for him at a "discounted" price.
If he ever truly mastered the Duan Jin Sword Manual, then he could consider how to deal with the Duan Jin Sect.
Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a little dejected.
However, the matter of the sword technique reminded him of something else.
If he couldn't learn the sword technique, then he needed to focus on improving his magical abilities, which were generally lacking.
Especially when it came to offensive spells.
His Invisibility Technique was still of the first-rate variety, a flawed one at that, only effective with the support of an invisibility array.
The Water Prison Technique was decent, but the Fireball Technique...
In the Qi Refining Phase, and amidst the gathering of geniuses in Qianzhou, the commonplace Fireball Technique, despite its speed and accuracy, had reached a bottleneck in terms of power and was becoming increasingly inadequate.
It was only useful for finishing off weakened foes.
In direct combat, the Fireball Technique's might had hit a plateau and no longer posed a significant threat.
Especially when facing formidable future opponents.
"Since I can't learn sword techniques, I need to find a way to learn more powerful spells..." Mo Hua thought to himself.
After one of the Daoist spell classes, Mo Hua humbly sought advice from the elder who taught Daoist spells.
The Daoist elder was of middle age and slightly plump, and he had a deep impression of Mo Hua.
After all, in all these years, disciples with mediocre spiritual roots like Mo Hua's were few and far between in the Tai Xu Gate.
Especially in the past few decades, there hadn't been a single disciple with a middle-grade spiritual root.
Mo Hua was the only one.
Moreover, Elder Xun's favoritism towards Mo Hua was evident to these elders, so despite Mo Hua's inferior spiritual root, they didn't dare to show any disrespect.
"Elder, what powerful spells can I learn?" Mo Hua asked tentatively.
The Daoist elder looked at Mo Hua and deliberated for a long time, unsure if he should speak.
Mo Hua said with a resigned expression, "Elder, just say whatever is on your mind."
The Daoist elder coughed and said gently, "You must be aware that the more powerful a spell is, the more stringent the requirements are..."
"First of all, it depends on the grade of one's spiritual root..."
"Some powerful spells require a high-grade or even top-grade spiritual root to learn and cast..."
"Without a high-grade spiritual root and without cultivating a high-grade spell, one's spiritual sea will be shallow, and their spiritual power will be weak, making it impossible to wield such powerful spells."
The Daoist elder gave Mo Hua a meaningful look, implying that he should be aware of his limitations based on his spiritual root and the spells he could cultivate.
"Additionally, the attribute of one's spiritual root is also crucial..." The Daoist elder continued, "Some spells require special spiritual root attributes, such as lightning, ice, wind, pure gold, second wood, heavy water, and so on, to exert their maximum potential."
"As for your..." The Daoist elder paused, feeling a bit embarrassed, "...minor five-element spiritual root, it's a jack-of-all-trades but master of none."
"So, the spells you can learn are generally more 'moderate' in nature..."
The Daoist elder chose his words carefully, using "moderate" instead of directly saying "commonplace."
"It's hard to say how powerful these spells are..." The Daoist elder said softly.
In other words, it was a lost cause.
Mo Hua's expression turned glum.
The Daoist elder felt a twinge of sympathy and thought for a moment before continuing, "However, the path of spells you've chosen so far is quite insightful..."
"Instead of focusing on raw power, you emphasize speed and accuracy, striking swiftly and precisely to achieve victory through surprise."
"And your Fireball Technique is truly exquisite, and its power is indeed considerable. It's just a pity that the Fireball Technique is still limited by its nature."
The Daoist elder expressed his regret.
Mo Hua understood this as well.
His Fireball Technique was already very strong, but when compared to the top-notch spells passed down through the generations in the prestigious families of Qianzhou, it fell short.
Although he could take the initiative with his swift attacks, he would be at a disadvantage if he ever encountered a situation that required overwhelming power.
While arrays were powerful, they consumed spirit stones, spirit ink, and required intricate preparations, unlike spells that were more convenient and straightforward.
Mo Hua asked for advice, "Elder, then what do you think I should focus on in terms of spells going forward?"
The Daoist elder pondered for a moment before replying, "To be honest, I shouldn't be telling you this, considering the sect's assessment rules..."
"Not just the Tai Xu Gate, but all sects in the Qian Xue state value the grade of spells, emphasizing 'overwhelming power with a single technique,' where the most robust spiritual power is used to unleash the most potent spell, ensuring victory with a single strike."
"The Daoist spell assessments follow this principle as well."
"But you are different..."
"Since your spiritual power is weak, it's better to learn a variety of low spiritual power-consuming, fast-casting, and versatile lower-grade spells, and learn them for all five elements."
"Spiritual power has its strengths and weaknesses, and so do spells."
"If you know a wide range of spells, you'll have more techniques at your disposal, and by striking swiftly, you can gain the upper hand."
"Moreover, some spells may seem low-level, but their power is not the only factor that determines their usefulness."
"For instance, some spells are stealthy, some are versatile, and some are unpredictable..."
"With the five elements in harmony, all spells can be mastered."
"Even if you only know low-level spells, you can still overwhelm your opponents with sheer variety, leaving them unable to counter your onslaught."
Comprehend the Five Elements, master myriad techniques, with spiritual energy flowing unceasingly, and an endless supply of spells.
If he could also manifest the "Five Elements Source Array" beneath his feet to strengthen the Five Elements and amplify his spells, he would be a spell-casting powerhouse! Even with just low-level spells, he could overwhelm his opponents.
"But..." Mo Hua asked, "Do I have to learn all Five Elements spells? Can't I just learn the Fireball Technique?"
Even if he were to learn spells, the Fireball Technique would likely be the most powerful in his arsenal.
The Elder of the Dao replied, "It's not just about power. Some spells have strong utility and are irreplaceable."
"For example, if someone casts an invulnerability spell on themselves, your Fireball Technique would be significantly less effective, but if you use the Golden Blade Technique, although it may not be as powerful, it will reduce the duration of their invulnerability..."
"Your Fireball Technique is fast, but there are spells that are even faster. In the blink of an eye, you could interrupt someone's attack..."
"There are also spells that can break a 'Water Shield', extinguish a 'Fire Shield', inflict 'Wood Poison', and destroy the physical body..."
"There is a unique use for every spell under the heavens..."
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly recalled a lesson from Gu Lao a long time ago, and he murmured in realization, "The Dao has myriad paths, each with its own merits, and the key to mastery lies within the heart?"
The Elder of the Dao looked at him with a hint of surprise but nodded in agreement.
"That's the idea... You've just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and you don't have much dueling experience yet. As your cultivation improves and you face more cultivators, you'll understand that there's a lot more to it than meets the eye."
"Having powerful spells is certainly beneficial."
"But that doesn't mean that all the myriad spells in the world are useful."
"Spells also contain the principles of heaven and earth. The more spells you master and the deeper your understanding of these principles, the stronger your spells will become."
"Since you're good at arrays, you should understand this principle..."
Mo Hua nodded repeatedly.
The Elder of the Dao was pleased that Mo Hua understood, but he also gave a reminder:
"I'm just saying this for your consideration. If you can learn superior spells, then of course, superior spells are better—they're more powerful and straightforward..."
"But since you can't learn them, I'm giving you this suggestion."
"And even if you master these inferior spells, the sect's assessment won't give you a high score. Most likely, you'll still get a 'C'..."
"I must remind you of this again, so you don't blame me later..."
"And don't go complain to Elder Xun that I'm misleading you..."
Mo Hua smiled and said, "I understand, thank you, Elder."
The Elder of the Dao confirmed with Mo Hua once again and was relieved to receive his assurance.
...
After returning, Mo Hua began to ponder his path to becoming a master of all spells...
The Golden Blade Sword Manual might not be of immediate use.
However, the cultivation of spells was urgent.
Especially since he needed to accumulate merit points and take on more tasks with Murong and the others, having an additional spell would increase his chances of success.
The more skills, the better.
But spells from the Tai Xu Gate also required merit points.
Mo Hua flipped through the Merit Manual and found that it indeed recorded various Five Elements spells, totaling thousands of them.
However, they were not cheap.
Some required a few dozen merit points, while others went up to several hundred.
Some superior Five Elements spells even required a thousand merit points.
Mo Hua felt relieved.
It was a good thing he couldn't learn them, so he didn't have to waste his merit points...
But a few dozen points...
Compared to arrays, it wasn't expensive.
However, he had to learn a lot, and he also wanted to learn arrays, so his already limited merit points would be stretched even thinner...
Moreover, you get what you pay for.
Some of these spells, despite being inferior, couldn't be expected to be too impressive...
And if he wanted to become a "Master of Spells," he would inevitably have to learn a vast number of them.
If he had to exchange merit points for each one, it would be a huge loss...
"Is there a way to learn spells without spending merit points?"
Mo Hua frowned in thought, but even after pondering for several days, he couldn't come up with any ideas.
Until one day, after finishing his array studies and feeling a bit tired, he lay on his bed and flipped through Boss Jiang's diary to pass the time.
As he flipped through the pages, Mo Hua's eyebrows furrowed as he noticed something unusual about the diary.
He seemed to detect a faint trace of magnetic flow in the lines of the text...
Magnetic flow...
Secondary lightning patterns? "That's not right..."
The secondary lightning patterns on the jade slip were used for unsealing.
The secondary lightning patterns inside the jade slip were used to link the magnetic patterns and manifest the text.
But where did these secondary lightning patterns on the surface of the text come from? Mo Hua paused, suddenly remembering what Zheng Fang had told him about sealing and hidden patterns, and his heart skipped a beat.
Could these traces of secondary lightning patterns be...
Hidden patterns?! Boss Jiang, you scoundrel, even your diary is encrypted?!
(End of Chapter)
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