Chapter 621: The Great Evil of Karma
Chapter 621: The Great Evil of Karma
On a quiet night, a disciple sat in solitude. Ink Painting's thoughts were in disarray.
Why did Hidden Elder Two say that the Five Shadows Sect had been wiped out? What led to their destruction? And who ordered the hit? Was it truly because of poor management and lack of disciples, or was there another hidden reason behind their departure from the Qian Xue Province?
Ink Painting furrowed his brows, then paused as a realization struck him.
This didn't seem to have anything to do with him...
He was just a minor disciple of the Tai Xu Sect. He wasn't familiar with the Qian Xue Province or its numerous sects. In fact, he had only heard of the Five Shadows Sect.
Even if he wanted to inquire about it, he didn't know where to start...
Besides, he was already busy with his classes, tasks, accumulating merits, cultivating, studying array formations, and learning spells... When would he have time to meddle in such matters?
All he needed was to obtain the Little Five Elements Stealth Technique. Whether the news about the Five Shadows Sect was true or not, it didn't seem like it was his place, as a minor cultivator, to get involved...
Ink Painting shook his head.
He picked up Elder Jiang's diary again, deciphered the hidden patterns, and browsed through the list of names, his mind pondering another matter:
Elder Jiang was a traitor of the Duan Jin Sect.
Hidden Elder Two was a traitor of the Five Shadows Sect...
...
Could the others on this list also be traitors from the various sects of the Qian Xue Province?
Was this list a record of "traitors"?
Ink Painting pondered for a moment, and the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.
If so, then the source of these sinful cultivators' heritage lay within the four major sects, eight grand sects, twelve streams, and countless smaller sects of the Qian Xue Province?
As the saying goes, you shear the wool from the sheep.
While it was said that they were shearing the wool from sinful cultivators, ultimately, they were taking advantage of the sects of Qian Xue.
In that case...
Ink Painting stiffened.
Was he, in a way, learning spells by feeding off of a hundred families?
By drawing from a hundred schools of thought, could he create a single, powerful stream, thus mastering all techniques? As long as he continued to learn, one day he might be able to integrate the knowledge of a hundred schools, using his powerful spiritual sense to effortlessly wield thousands of spells, countering their techniques with their own magic...
Thus, he would become a true master of spells, proficient in all techniques!
Ink Painting couldn't help but feel delighted.
However, as he looked at the jade slip in his hand, he felt a twinge of doubt.
Why were there so many traitors from the Qian Xue Province? Why did they band together? And why did they leave a list in Elder Jiang's possession?
Was it for mutual comfort and support?
Or did they feel that even though they had become sinful cultivators, they were still once rightful disciples of their sects, and thus wanted to set themselves apart from other sinful cultivators and form their own organization?
Ink Painting was perplexed, his thoughts stirring slightly as he performed some quick calculations.
But as soon as he started calculating, a bone-chilling coldness crept over his body.
Ink Painting's pupils contracted.
In the chaos and darkness, he caught a glimpse of a massive, evil, poppy-like web of karma, filled with enticing desires that lured people to their downfall.
This karma was purple-black, incredibly ugly, yet it seemed to emanate a sweet and decadent fragrance that tantalized the desires of cultivators, causing them to sink deep into its grasp.
This was...
The true, great karma of evil desires! It was a fully formed, sin-laden, deeply rooted evil pattern, a decadent heavenly secret with thick chains of karma! Ink Painting felt a piercing pain in his eyes, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
He quickly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, everything had vanished without a trace.
The illusory patterns, the chains of karma, the purple-black poppy-like web filled with sin and desire, the heavenly secret that tempted cultivators—all of it had disappeared as if it had been an illusion...
But Ink Painting knew that the hints from the heavenly secret were not false.
This "poppy"-like karma truly existed.
And such a powerful and profound web of karma, filled with sin, was definitely not something that Ink Painting could perceive with his current spiritual sense.
It felt more like a subtle revelation from the heavens.
Or perhaps...
Someone wanted him to see it...
Ink Painting's mood instantly turned solemn.
The various incidents that had occurred since his arrival in the Qian Xue Province flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, as fleeting as flowers reflected in a mirror or moonlight on the water, leaving only ripples that soon dissipated.
Qian Xue Province.
The pinnacle of the cultivation world, a haven for seekers of knowledge...
Now, in Ink Painting's heart, that impression had completely changed.
While on the surface, it still appeared to be a thriving place of cultivation with numerous sects, talented elites, and a prosperous atmosphere, something rotten lurked beneath the surface...
Ink Painting furrowed his brows, a frown on his face as he muttered,
"It's a bit dangerous..."
Ink Painting understood that within karma lay great peril.
The Dao was unfathomable, and the secrets of heaven were ever-changing.
The world was like a chessboard, and living beings were the pieces.
Something was brewing in the shadows, something that had already begun to take root...
In times like these, it was best to stay clear of these unknown grand conspiracies if possible.
Moreover, he still carried the karma of his master and Master Zhang.
Ink Painting sighed, his thoughts turning to his master...
He knew nothing about the enormous conspiracies surrounding his master.
Even if he did, as a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would be powerless to do anything about it.
And then there was Master Zhang...
Ink Painting still remembered how Master Zhang had used his magical powers to kill Golden Core cultivators and Feathered-flight cultivators as easily as cutting vegetables. He wouldn't stand a chance against such a formidable opponent, especially since he was just an insignificant Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Without his master's heavenly secret calculations to counterbalance Master Zhang, he was truly terrifying...
Moreover, there was some "bad blood" between him and Master Zhang.
He had secretly learned Master Zhang's cunning calculations, consumed his demonic thoughts, and even eaten his bowl of noodles...
Admittedly, he had learned the calculations fairly and squarely!
He had no choice but to consume the demonic thoughts!
And he had paid for the noodles with spirit stones...
But given Master Zhang's personality, he would definitely hold a grudge...
Ink Painting lay on the table, his mind racing as he gradually untangled his thoughts...
There was definitely a grand conspiracy in the Qian Xue Province.
And there was undoubtedly great peril associated with Master Zhang.
However, whether it was a conspiracy or peril, it had little to do with him at the moment.
His current task was to find a way to protect himself and develop safely.
While improving his cultivation and enhancing his spiritual sense, he also needed to learn as much as possible.
He had to study array formations, spells, and other Taoist knowledge extensively.
He wanted to ensure that he could graduate from the Tai Xu Sect smoothly and establish his Golden Core without any issues.
He also needed to gather some intelligence to prevent potential problems.
That way, if he ever encountered danger in the future, he would be prepared and have some foresight.
Ink Painting nodded, and thus, he became even more diligent in his cultivation and studies...
...
Qian Xue Province, the Dao Court.
Even upon returning to the Dao Ting Si, there were still tedious procedures to be dealt with.
He felt somewhat irritated, but suppressed his temper and slowly perused the case files on his desk.
As he flipped through the files, he suddenly recalled something and asked the Zhi Si beside him, "What about that robbery and murder case?"
"You mean..."
The Zhi Si was a little nervous. There were too many cases in the Dao Ting Si, and he couldn't remember which one Gu Chang Huai was referring to. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to answer, so he felt a bit flustered.
Gu Chang Huai frowned, "Yin Lao Er."
"Oh, yes." The Zhi Si finally remembered and hurriedly flipped through the files before replying, "Reporting to the Dian Si, the case is about to be closed..."
"Closed?" Gu Chang Huai's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Zhi Si swallowed his saliva, trying to gauge Gu Chang Huai's thoughts. "Yes, Dian Si, the case is... about to be closed."
"Has Yin Lao Er been captured?"
"Yes, he has been imprisoned in the Dao prison and sentenced according to his crimes."
"How was he captured?"
The Zhi Si quickly flipped through the files again and replied, "According to the records... it happened in Canglang Mountain. They tracked down Yin Lao Er, saw through his concealment, and several disciples from Tai Xu Men, Tai Ah Men, and Bai Hua Gu joined forces to capture him and bring him to the Dao Ting Si."
"Are you sure it was Yin Lao Er?"
"They verified his identity by checking his bloodline, spiritual root, cultivation technique, and the spiritual power he cultivated. It was indeed Yin Lao Er."
Gu Chang Huai was puzzled. "Weren't there any other cultivators who helped?"
"It's not mentioned in the files, so probably not..."
Gu Chang Huai's eyes darkened as his thoughts raced.
Something was amiss...
While the file described the sequence of events, it didn't make sense in terms of the underlying logic.
How did they track his whereabouts, see through his concealment, and work together to capture him?
Capturing a rogue cultivator who was skilled in concealment and assassination was extremely difficult. How could it be so easy for these inexperienced sect disciples to capture Yin Lao Er in just a day or two? It seemed highly suspicious.
"Take me to see Yin Lao Er," Gu Chang Huai said.
"Yes." The Zhi Si nodded.
Following the Zhi Si, they entered the underground Dao prison, where Gu Chang Huai finally came face to face with Yin Lao Er.
Yin Lao Er was locked up in a prison that suppressed spiritual power, bound by second-grade chains. He had been tortured, his limbs broken, teeth knocked out, and his appearance was pitiful.
Gu Chang Huai frowned. "Is this how our Dao Ting Si metes out punishment?"
The Zhi Si smiled bitterly. "No... he was already like this before he arrived here..."
"His limbs were broken, the tendons in his hands severed, all his teeth shattered, and his knees... it seems he knelt on some kind of demonic object, rendering them useless."
Gu Chang Huai paused for a moment before asking, "Who did this?"
"Probably those sect disciples..."
Gu Chang Huai's brows furrowed.
The Zhi Si said, "Dian Si, is this... against the rules?"
Gu Chang Huai coldly humphed. "What rules? He's a rogue cultivator. If you don't treat them harshly, they'll treat you harshly. It's just that..."
Gu Chang Huai glanced at Yin Lao Er, his eyelids twitching. "This method is too familiar..."
Are the sect disciples nowadays this ruthless?
"Were any of those disciples injured?" Gu Chang Huai asked.
"When they brought Yin Lao Er here, I saw them, and they all looked lively and energetic, with no apparent injuries."
"Hmm."
Gu Chang Huai nodded and turned to leave. However, as he was about to depart, his gaze swept past Yin Lao Er's face, and he noticed burn marks. His eyes narrowed.
"Did you use fire torture?"
"No," the Zhi Si whispered. "We only used the Thousand Jun Spirit Wood to strike him a few times..."
Gu Chang Huai looked at the burn marks on Yin Lao Er's face. "This is... a Five Elements fire-attributed spell."
It didn't look like burns from a sword, blade, or fire-imbued needles.
It resembled the aftermath of an explosion caused by a ball of fire. That meant...
"Fireball spell?" Gu Chang Huai muttered.
The fireball spell wasn't anything special; it was an entry-level spell. Any cultivator in the cultivation world with a fire spiritual root would know it.
Anyone could use it...
Gu Chang Huai paused, his eyes suddenly sharp.
A past event suddenly surfaced in his mind.
He remembered that more than half a year ago, in a restaurant outside Qing City, more than ten human traffickers who had abducted Yu'er were killed by fireball spells.
Gu Chang Huai's mind raced...
There were five of them on that trip.
Ouyang Feng practiced the Ouyang family's sword techniques, and Ouyang Xu also used a sword. Hua Qianqian cultivated the White Flower Spirit Formation of Bai Hua Gu.
As for Murong Caiyun, she cultivated the Five Elements Spirit Light Spell of Tai Xu Men.
None of them typically used fireball spells or favored such attacks.
That left only one person.
Gu Chang Huai's eyes narrowed.
That little cultivator with the minor five elements spiritual root, who allegedly happened to pass by and rescued Yu'er—Mo Hua!
Gu Chang Huai frowned.
There was definitely something fishy about this.
Mo Hua's claim that he just happened to be there and stumbled upon Yu'er was definitely not to be trusted!
If he didn't pick her up, then could it be...
Did he single-handedly use fireball spells to kill more than ten human traffickers and then rescue Yu'er? That seemed...
Even more unbelievable...
No one would believe such a story, not even a fool.
Gu Chang Huai was perplexed.
Based on his years of experience as the Dian Si of the Dao Ting Si, he could sense that there was definitely something amiss with this little cultivator, Mo Hua.
However, his cousin deeply trusted this young man, and Yu'er was also very close to him.
It wouldn't be appropriate for him to take action against Mo Hua.
But if he let things slide, it could become a significant hidden danger...
Gu Chang Huai's eyes flickered, and his mind once again conjured up the image of Mo Hua's eyes. Those eyes appeared clear at first glance but felt extremely incongruous upon closer inspection, possessing a depth unlike that of ordinary people...
One half was benevolent, and the other half was malevolent.
It was as if he stood at the boundary between good and evil.
Gu Chang Huai had an intuition that a cultivator with such eyes was either an astonishing genius or a shocking demon.
"I need to find a chance to investigate him further..."
...
Tai Xu Men.
On this day, after Mo Hua finished his meal, he found a patch of grass to lie down, leisurely flipping through an array tome with his legs crossed. Suddenly, a tall "junior brother" ran over and shouted, "Mo Hua!"
Mo Hua lifted his head and saw Cheng Mo. He curiously asked,
"Who is it?"
"How should I know...?"
"Alright then." Mo Hua closed his book and brushed the grass off his robe. "I'll go take a look."
Cheng Mo looked at Mo Hua, puzzled, "Mo Hua, why do you seem so busy...?"
"That's because I cultivate diligently!" Mo Hua replied.
"It's not about cultivation," Cheng Mo shook his head. "I always feel like you're up to something else..."
Mo Hua patted the tall and sturdy Cheng Mo on the shoulder and sighed, "You're still young, there are some things you'll understand when you've been here longer. When you've been in the sect for a full year, 'Senior Brother' will take you guys out to play..."
Cheng Mo blushed, "You're two years younger than me!"
"In learning, there is no before or after, the one who arrives first is the honored one!"
"That's only because of Master Xun that I call you 'Little Senior Brother', don't get too full of yourself..."
"Who was it that called me 'Big Bro' before..."
"You..."
...
After bickering for a while, Mo Hua went to the side hall outside the mountain gate and met with the Elder, who directed him to meet the person who was looking for him outside the mountain gate.
It was Gu Chang Huai.
Mo Hua was quite surprised.
He didn't know many people in Qian Xue Province, and the only ones who would come to the sect to look for him were either Wan'er or the escorts from the Shangguan family sent by Wan'er's orders.
But he never expected it to be Gu Chang Huai.
"Uncle Gu?" Mo Hua exclaimed in surprise.
Gu Chang Huai nodded slightly, "I came to see how you're doing, and also... regarding Hidden Elder Two, there's something I want to ask you about..."
"Oh." Mo Hua nodded.
As the two spoke, the Tai Xu Men Elder sitting at a distance pretended to sip his tea, but he also split a strand of his spiritual sense to observe Gu Chang Huai.
Gu Chang Huai sighed inwardly.
It hadn't been easy for him to come here.
His identity as the Dian Si of the Dao Ting Si was special, and his every move carried the imprint of the Dao Ting Si.
Coming to the sect to speak with a disciple would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Gu Chang Huai had to use all his eloquence to explain that he was here on his family's orders to visit a younger generation disciple, and only then did the Elder agree.
However, whatever he asked or said would still be viewed with caution by the Tai Xu Men Elder.
Gu Chang Huai could only be subtle and start by asking about Hidden Elder Two.
Since most of it was in the case files, Mo Hua just picked and chose what to say, answering what he could and pretending to be ignorant, forgetful, or unclear about the rest...
Gu Chang Huai was helpless.
After asking a few questions, Mo Hua was tight-lipped and gave nothing away.
Finally, Gu Chang Huai couldn't hold back and slowly asked, "Mo Hua, do you... know fireball spells?"
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Fireball spells? Why is Uncle Gu asking me this?
He narrowed his eyes, about to answer, when a coughing sound came from a distance, and the Tai Xu Men Elder said indifferently, "My Tai Xu Men disciples are free to learn whatever they wish, others have no say in it..."
Gu Chang Huai frowned, feeling helpless.
This Tai Xu Men was indeed not giving him any opportunity to pry.
Mo Hua's eyes shifted, and he turned back to bow gratefully to the Elder, "Elder, don't worry, Uncle Gu and I are very close, I just want to chat with him about some family matters..."
The Elder raised an eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yes, yes." Mo Hua nodded and bowed again, "Thank you, Elder."
The Elder's expression softened a little, and he nodded to Mo Hua, "Go ahead and chat then."
After saying that, he retracted his spiritual sense and focused on drinking his tea.
Gu Chang Huai looked at Mo Hua in surprise, "You seem to have quite a bit of 'face' in the sect?"
Mo Hua modestly replied, "It's just so-so."
It was mostly Master Xun who had the 'face', and he was just riding on his coattails.
In that short moment, he had also figured something out.
Gu Chang Huai was the Dian Si, so whatever he was concerned about must be related to the case.
At the same time, he was Wan'er's cousin and naturally cared about her and Yu'er.
The fact that he came to ask him about it meant that this matter was also related to him.
The case he had "committed"...
No, that wasn't it.
It was the fact that he had used fireball spells to get rid of the human traffickers!
Mo Hua thought and thought, and the only thing that came to mind that could have left a "fireball spell" trace and aroused Gu Chang Huai's suspicion was this incident.
However, Mo Hua wasn't worried.
He had been abducted by human traffickers and then "defended himself", killing over ten of them and rescuing Yu'er.
Even if this was reported to the Dao Ting Si, there wouldn't be a problem, and it didn't violate the Dao Laws.
He just didn't like the hassle, so he did a good deed without leaving his name. That was why he hadn't mentioned it.
If he had reported it, the Dao Ting Si might even have commended him! And even if he told Gu Chang Huai about it, it probably wouldn't be an issue.
Most importantly, he had Wan'er backing him.
Wan'er valued righteousness and would definitely stand by him.
Although Gu Chang Huai looked formidable, in front of Wan'er, he was like a younger brother, and he wouldn't be able to do anything to him! On the contrary...
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he even started to scheme against Gu Chang Huai.
Because Mo Hua realized that following Jiang Laoda's "list" to catch sinful cultivators, learn spells, eat "a hundred families' meals", and become a master of spells by using "their methods to counter their techniques" was still very inconvenient...
Finding sinful cultivators was troublesome.
Even if he found a sinful cultivator, there might not be a matching task.
The issuance of tasks was also a separate system, cumbersome and troublesome.
Therefore, he needed to have "connections" to secretly manipulate things...
For example, he could use the list to identify the spells he wanted to learn and specifically target the sinful cultivators he wanted to catch.
Then he could get intelligence on these sinful cultivators from the Dao Ting Si.
And if he had a good relationship with Gu Chang Huai...
He could have Gu Chang Huai issue tasks through the Dao Ting Si, have Murong Xian'er accept the tasks, and then he could tag along and help complete the tasks...
In this way, he would obtain the legacies and merits perfectly in a "closed loop".
From start to finish, it would all be handled by "his" people!
It would save time, effort, and be highly efficient.
As he thought of this, Mo Hua's eyes shone with excitement.
Gu Chang Huai saw Mo Hua's eyes suddenly light up and felt perplexed, with a vague sense of unease.
He felt like he hadn't come to "investigate" but rather to walk into a "trap"...
(End of Chapter)
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