Chapter 643: Deadline
Chapter 643: Deadline
Secret Cave of Bishan, Heaven Beyond the Sky?
Mo Hua and Gu Changhuai looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion.
"Secret Cave of Bishan," Mo Hua murmured, "could it mean that within Bishan City, there exists a hidden lair for sinful and evil cultivators?"
"And Heaven Beyond the Sky refers to the location of this lair. A place beyond the heavens, a hidden paradise?" Mo Hua mused silently.
"Secret Cave of Bishan..." Gu Changhuai's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint appearing in them.
Mo Hua echoed the name, his confusion growing.
Bishan City was a city of immortals, bustling with cultivators and even housing a branch of the Daotinsi. How could there be a "lair" here?
Was this lair a large-scale base for the demonic sect? Or was it merely a temporary hideout for sinful and evil cultivators?
What secrets did it hold? Was Huo Fotu currently hiding within this lair?
Mo Hua, unable to make sense of it, leaned closer to Gu Changhuai and asked in a low voice, "Uncle Gu, have you ever heard of this 'Secret Cave of Bishan'?"
Gu Changhuai shook his head, his expression grave. The Daotinsi had never received any clues or information about this so-called "Secret Cave of Bishan."
And within Bishan City, under the watchful eyes of the Daotinsi, how could a "lair" exist unnoticed?
However, Jia Ren's capture had been unexpected, and the message scroll hidden in his storage bag, sent after his sealing, seemed to indicate that the information was genuine.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, deep in thought, when suddenly his eyes lit up.
Gu Changhuai noticed his expression and asked, "Have you thought of something?"
Mo Hua nodded. After organizing his thoughts, he asked, "Uncle Gu, after the Xie family was wiped out, Huo Fotu and the others disappeared into the flames right before the eyes of all the cultivators in Bishan City... How exactly did they disappear?"
"Could it be..." Mo Hua ventured a bold guess, "...teleportation?"
Gu Changhuai was taken aback for a moment before shaking his head. "No, it's not possible. Teleportation involves the power of space, a divine ability of the Dongxu realm, the fifth level of cultivation. In a second-level province like this, the laws of heaven restrict such abilities..."
Mo Hua had suspected as much. His understanding of cultivation was limited, and he was unclear about the abilities of the seemingly unattainable Dongxu realm, so he wanted to confirm with Uncle Gu.
At least they could rule out the possibility of spatial teleportation.
However, there was something that puzzled Mo Hua.
The power of space was an ability possessed only by ancient masters of the Dongxu realm, and the laws of heaven restricted its use to the fifth level.
But what about storage bags? Didn't they also contain space within them? Why were they usable in low-level provinces of the first and second levels?
Mo Hua directed this question to Gu Changhuai.
Gu Changhuai was a bit surprised. This kind of information wasn't exactly a secret among the aristocratic families.
But seeing Mo Hua's bewildered expression, it was clear that he truly didn't understand.
For some reason, Gu Changhuai felt a sense of balance restored within him. So, there are things you don't know either, young man...
With a slight upward tilt of his eyebrows, Gu Changhuai patiently explained, "Storage bags are inanimate objects. The space within them is objective and can only accommodate lifeless items."
"On the other hand, the fifth-level spatial power can be subjectively controlled by cultivators. It can also accommodate living beings, allowing for instantaneous movement through the void or teleportation."
Mo Hua's eyes widened in comprehension, and he asked, "Then how are storage bags made? Does it involve array formations?"
Gu Changhuai shook his head. "No, storage bags don't involve array formations..."
"Or more accurately," he continued, "they don't involve fifth-level spatial array formations. Any formations on them are ordinary and used only for reinforcement, beautification, dust removal, or concealment of aura."
"These formations are common and do not involve the power of space."
"The space within storage bags is created using 'silk'..."
"Silk?" Mo Hua asked, taken aback.
Gu Changhuai picked up a storage bag from the ground and tore it open, revealing the fine silk threads along the opening.
"Storage bags are woven from silk," he explained.
"This silk comes from the 'Qingkong Silkworm,' a silkworm that inherently contains the power of space. The silk it produces naturally possesses an extra dimension of space."
"Using special refining techniques, this silk is woven into storage bags, resulting in the creation of extra space."
"That's why I said the space within storage bags is dead and objectively existent..."
"I see..." Mo Hua nodded, then asked, "Since this 'Qingkong Silkworm' contains the power of space, it must be very expensive, right?"
"Not really..." Mo Hua was surprised. "Containing the power of space and yet not expensive?"
"Mmm," Gu Changhuai affirmed. "The expensive ones are the 'Jinkong Silkworm' and the 'Starry Sky Silkworm,' ancient space-bearing silkworm species."
"Jinkong Silkworm? Starry Sky Silkworm?" Mo Hua had never heard of them and looked lost.
Gu Changhuai felt a surge of comfort wash over him, and he continued, "In ancient times, the number of spiritual tools and treasures capable of storing items was extremely scarce."
"The silkworms used to refine these tools and treasures inherently possessed powerful spatial abilities. They were difficult to capture and cultivate, and the amount of silk they produced was minimal."
"The scarcity of ancient silkworm species meant that the number of spatial spiritual tools and treasures was also limited."
"However, while these ancient spatial treasures were few in number, their quality was exceptionally high."
"Without exception, they were refined using the cocoons, silk, or pupae of the most superior and precious space-bearing silkworm species. Thus, they were considered supreme treasures for cultivators, boasting immense internal space."
"They were truly bags that contained worlds and rings that held the universe."
"As the cultivation world evolved and the number of cultivators grew exponentially, the demand for spatial spiritual tools also increased dramatically."
"Over generations, Beast Tamers had no choice but to devise ways to artificially cultivate space-bearing silkworm species that were easier to breed, cultivate, and more affordable."
"Qingkong silkworm silk is inexpensive and durable, although the resulting space is slightly smaller."
"Nowadays, more than eighty percent of storage bags in the cultivation world are made from Qingkong silkworm silk."
"There are also silkworms that are more expensive than the Qingkong Silkworm."
"However, storage bags made from the silk of these silkworms are much more costly and are not something that ordinary cultivators can afford."
"As for even more expensive options, there are the ancient Jinkong Silkworm and the Starry Sky Silkworm..."
Gu Changhuai sighed, a hint of regret in his voice.
"These silkworm species were already rare to begin with, and over tens of thousands of years, they have been hunted and killed relentlessly by cultivators, driving most of them to the brink of extinction, or even total annihilation..."
"The few that have survived are either kept as closely guarded secrets by the Central Daotinsi, local influential clans, or major sects..."
"...or they hide in obscure spaces within ancient cultivation grounds, abyssal forbidden lands, or heavenly secluded realms, unknown to the world..."
...
Gu Changhuai explained the origins of the storage spiritual artifacts.
Mo Hua was amazed, having never expected that the commonplace storage bags held so many secrets.
Who would have thought that these seemingly ordinary storage bags were the culmination of countless cultivators' efforts and the crystallization of various cultivation techniques over tens of thousands of years?
Ordinary things could contain profound principles.
Mo Hua was lost in thought, feeling a sense of wonder.
The Dongxu realm, the power of space, and fifth-grade spatial formations...
He wondered when he would be able to reach the Dongxu realm and master the fifth-grade formations.
With a sigh, Mo Hua snapped out of his reverie and finally remembered that the pressing matter at hand was Huo Fotu.
Since it wasn't teleportation, then things would be much simpler.
Under the restrictions of the second-grade heavenly laws, the capabilities of cultivators were limited.
As a formation master himself, and a knowledgeable one at that, Mo Hua was well-versed in the various abilities and cultivation laws of the second grade.
Mo Hua thought to himself:
"If they didn't truly disappear and it wasn't teleportation, then it means they became invisible..."
"Invisibility could be achieved through stealth techniques, but it's more likely that they used a spiritual artifact, most probably a stealth formation..."
"Huo Fotu and his group wiped out the Xie family and then used a stealth formation to vanish from the sea of flames, escaping to an unknown location..."
"The eight characters on the message scroll, 'Secret Cave of Bishan, Heaven Beyond the Sky,' are likely the location and password for their hideout..."
"While Bishan City is a city of immortals, with its complex terrain of intertwining peaks, it is possible for a demon lair to exist undetected if hidden by a stealth formation."
"With its intricate landscape, it would be difficult for ordinary cultivators to discover a demon lair concealed by a stealth formation."
"And as for 'Heaven Beyond the Sky,' it suggests that the lair might be located in the remote and steep areas of the city, amidst the cliffs and precipices."
"The word 'Heaven' could be referring to a 'Skyline Passage,' a narrow passage between two cliffs..."
"...and with a stealth formation obscuring the passage, it would be like a 'heavenly road,' leading to a hidden paradise beyond."
...
Mo Hua's thoughts were clear and his words eloquent as he explained his deductions.
Gu Changhuai was taken aback.
This child was indeed exceptionally intelligent.
Not only was his thinking agile, but he also possessed extensive knowledge about formations, and even these peculiar "experiences" seemed to be abundant...
It was as if he had been dealing with sinful cultivators and demons for years...
He knew how they operated and how they hid.
Something about this didn't sit right with Gu Changhuai.
After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "How... how do you know so much?"
Mo Hua didn't hide it, replying, "I've seen it, so it left a deep impression on me."
"You've seen it?" Gu Changhuai asked, puzzled.
"Mhm." Mo Hua nodded. "Back when I was still a demon hunter in Tongxian City..."
"...the sinful cultivators in Daheshan Mountain used a stealth formation to hide the path to the back mountain, and they took advantage of the heavy fog to kill and loot, committing all sorts of evil deeds..."
"I've also seen some demonic cultivators build corpse pavilions and halls behind a Skyline Passage to refine corpses..."
Gu Changhuai frowned. "I thought you were a formation master. When did you become a demon hunter?"
"My father was a demon hunter, and I'm carrying on the family business. What's so strange about that? It's a hereditary skill, so I can't just give it up..."
"But I'm physically weak by nature, so I'm not very good at demon hunting. That's why I need to find other paths..."
"I'm not just a demon hunter and a formation master, but I also work with the Daotinsi... as an external associate cultivator."
"Sigh..." Mo Hua let out a helpless sigh. "What can I say? I grew up in poverty, so I had to endure some hardships and do all sorts of work..."
Looking at Mo Hua's delicate features and his occasional fearless demeanor, Gu Changhuai found it hard to believe that he had endured any real "hardships"...
However...
"Your short life of just over a decade has certainly been eventful..."
Gu Changhuai remarked.
Demon hunting, sinful cultivators hiding in the back mountains, and corpse refiners in mountain lairs...
He wondered if these were true accounts or just tales spun by Mo Hua.
"I guess so..."
Mo Hua nodded in agreement.
Gu Changhuai shook his head.
However, it seemed that Mo Hua's talent extended far beyond mere "skill."
His proficiency in array formations was becoming "unfathomable."
In his life, Gu Changhuai had encountered disciples with exceptional talent and those skilled in array formations. But he had never come across someone whose talent in array formations was so extraordinary that he himself was at a loss for words.
Gu Changhuai felt helpless.
His aunt had gone to great lengths to get Mo Hua into the Tai Xu Sect, and it now seemed that the sect had gained a "valuable asset" in return.
It wasn't a case of his aunt being impulsive and wasting the sect's favor.
Instead, the Tai Xu Sect might even owe his aunt a favor...
Gu Changhuai's emotions were mixed.
After some thought, he nodded to Mo Hua:
"I'll have people look into it in that direction..."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "So, can I..."
"You don't have a part in this anymore..."
Mo Hua was taken aback.
"You need to go back to your classes," Gu Changhuai said.
"Huh?" Mo Hua was stunned.
"Otherwise, how long do you plan to skip them?" Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua. "The break is only for two days. You have to return to the sect tomorrow. Don't concern yourself with the rest..."
"Moreover, if we really encounter Huo Fotu, and it comes to a real fight, you won't be of much help anyway..."
Gu Changhuai patted Mo Hua's shoulder and added, "Focus on your cultivation."
Mo Hua's heart sank.
He felt like he was being "discarded after his use was over."
In his mind, he had already labeled Gu Changhuai as someone who would "abandon him after crossing the river."
However, he had no choice but to return to the sect.
Skipping classes without a valid reason would result in expulsion.
"Can I take a leave of absence?" Mo Hua asked.
"It has nothing to do with me," Gu Changhuai replied nonchalantly. "I'm the Chief Justice of the Daotinsi, not an elder of the Tai Xu Sect, so I can't approve your leave..."
Mo Hua had no response to that.
Gu Changhuai waved his hand. "Go back..."
Thus, a helpless Mo Hua could only reluctantly return to the Tai Xu Sect.
Back at the sect, Mo Hua continued his daily routine of cultivation, classes, and drawing array formations. However, his mind was constantly occupied by thoughts of Huo Fotu...
"My Meteor Fire Technique..."
If he couldn't capture Huo Fotu, obtain the Meteor Fire Technique's manual, and lack a stable spell model for reference, his research on the fireball fusion spell would hit a dead end.
Without it, the lethality of his spells wouldn't improve significantly.
What should he do?
Mo Hua didn't give up. Every day, he sent messages inquiring about the progress of the search for Huo Fotu.
"Uncle Gu..."
"Uncle Gu..."
Seeing no response, Mo Hua sent:
"Gu Changhuai!"
Gu Changhuai indeed replied, "Watch your tone..."
Mo Hua quickly asked, "Uncle Gu, Uncle Gu, have you found anything? Where is the demon lair?"
"No..."
A day later, Mo Hua asked again, "Uncle Gu, have you found anything?"
Gu Changhuai replied, "No."
From then on, Mo Hua asked every day, and Gu Changhuai always replied, "No."
Mo Hua sensed something amiss.
"Uncle Gu, you're not lying to me, are you...?"
"Honesty is a virtue!"
The other side remained silent.
Mo Hua's suspicions were confirmed.
"Have you found the location of the demon lair?"
Gu Changhuai hesitated for a moment before replying, "Focus on your cultivation, and don't worry about such matters."
Unhappy, Mo Hua said, "If you don't tell me, I won't help you in the future even if you need my assistance!"
Gu Changhuai scoffed inwardly.
Ask for your help?
Me, the Chief Justice of the Daotinsi and a Golden Core cultivator—what could I possibly need your help with, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator...
Gu Changhuai paused for a moment.
The series of intricate array formations that Mo Hua had used when restoring the message scroll resurfaced in his mind, along with the techniques for dispelling seals and arrays and sensing formations.
Gu Changhuai suppressed the urge to boast and felt that, as an adult, it was better to be honest with a child rather than lie to him.
He sighed and replied, "We found it."
Mo Hua's spirits lifted. "How did you find it?"
Gu Changhuai couldn't help but start from the beginning:
"We adopted a strategy of loosening the exterior while tightening the interior. On the surface, we spread the word that Huo Fotu was likely hiding elsewhere, thereby relaxing the vigilance within Bishan City."
"In secret, we deployed more manpower to keep a close watch day and night."
"Since Huo Fotu was hiding in Bishan City, he would definitely seize the opportunity to escape. He couldn't hide forever."
"Sure enough, a few days later, we spotted a suspicious cultivator."
"Bishan City had already been sealed off, and all cultivators' origins were registered, but this cultivator's origin couldn't be found among the records."
"He appeared out of thin air..."
"...emerging from the 'demon lair' to gather information..."
"We tailed this suspicious cultivator and found that he wandered around the city for a while before heading alone to the dangerous mountains in the north of the city, after which he disappeared..."
"The Daotinsi dispatched array masters and spirit artifacts specialized in revealing hidden presences, and we finally discovered the entrance to the demon lair..."
Gu Changhuai paused at this point.
"And then?" Mo Hua asked eagerly.
"That's it."
"What do you mean, that's it? Isn't that the demon lair? Isn't Huo Fotu inside?"
"We can't get in..."
Gu Changhuai sighed. "The Hanging Solitary Mountain, a sheer cliff, with demonic energy looming on the other side. Who knows how many demonic cultivators are lurking within.
Mo Hua frowned, puzzled. "The Daotinsi has a lot of people, and there's no shortage of array masters..."
Gu Changhuai remained silent for a while before replying, "About that, I can't discuss the details with you..."
Mo Hua was taken aback, his mind whispering, "obscure and mysterious..."
Then he pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you need my help?"
Gu Changhuai was stubborn. "No."
"Don't be polite."
"I'm not being polite."
"I won't take part in the action, nor will I make a move. I'll just take a look at the array and find any loopholes..." Mo Hua said persuasively.
Gu Changhuai was indeed swayed.
"Aren't you supposed to be in class?" Gu Changhuai asked hesitantly.
Mo Hua's thoughts were confirmed.
It seemed that Uncle Gu was indeed facing a difficult situation and needed the help of someone as talented as himself in array techniques.
"I can try to take a leave of absence."
Gu Changhuai remained silent.
Mo Hua roughly understood the situation.
Uncle Gu was probably too proud to ask for his help directly.
Mo Hua thought about it and kindly gave him a way out. He sent a message:
"Uncle Gu, if the sect approves my leave, then I'll go and help you capture Huo Fotu."
Only then did Gu Changhuai reluctantly agree. "Alright..."
However, his tone and expression clearly showed that he was relieved.
Mo Hua shook his head, knowing that he couldn't change Gu Changhuai's mind.
Now that Uncle Gu's problem was solved, the next issue was taking leave... which wasn't going to be easy either.
Usually, elders could only approve one or two days of leave. For longer periods, they didn't have the necessary authority.
Entering the demon's lair and capturing Huo Fotu was definitely not something that could be accomplished in a day or two.
Even if everything went smoothly, it would take at least six or seven days.
If he used the two-day weekend break, he would still need to take at least five days off...
He could only seek help from Elder Xun.
But Elder Xun...
Would he really approve his leave?
Mo Hua was perplexed.
How could he explain to Elder Xun that he wanted five days off to help the Daotinsi capture a late-Foundation Establishment cultivator, one who was extremely evil, had wiped out an entire family, and also possessed forbidden techniques?
Unless Elder Xun had gone crazy, he wouldn't agree.
So, he had to be more subtle...
Mo Hua approached Elder Xun and gave a different reason for his request. He said that the Daotinsi wanted to invite him to set up an array, which would take about five days.
Elder Xun looked puzzled. "The Daotinsi? They want you? To set up an array? And it will take five days?"
Mo Hua nodded, feeling awkward.
"Why?" Elder Xun asked.
Mo Hua was vague in his reply. "I'm not sure either... It's an invitation from Gu Changhuai of the Daotinsi, who is a relative of Wan Aunty from the Shangguan family."
Elder Xun shook his head, "Why set up the array at the Daotinsi? And five days is too long..."
Mo Hua sighed, feeling disappointed.
Elder Xun was just about to say something when he paused, "You just said... Gu Changhuai of the Daotinsi?"
"Yes, yes." Mo Hua nodded repeatedly.
"How did you get to know the Gu family's Changhuai?"
"I know Wan Aunty from the Shangguan family, and Changhuai is her cousin..."
Elder Xun looked thoughtful, then asked, "Do you know what kind of array you'll be setting up?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "No, he just said it's a second-grade array and very difficult. It will probably take a long time, so I need to take five days off..."
Elder Xun gave Mo Hua a strange look.
The Daotinsi... The Gu family...
The Gu family had deep roots in the Daotinsi and had extensive connections.
If Mo Hua could establish a relationship with the Gu family, it would be beneficial for his future dealings with the Daotinsi...
At the very least, he wouldn't be targeted by the Daotinsi and suffer any groundless disasters.
Elder Xun thought for a moment, then asked Mo Hua, "It's just setting up an array, right? There's no other danger involved?"
"None!" Mo Hua assured him.
"Alright." Elder Xun nodded. "Go and find Elder Song. Tell him that I said it's fine to give you five days off."
Mo Hua was delighted. "Thank you, Elder!"
"Mhm." Elder Xun nodded and thought for a moment before adding, "This array, you should set it up properly. The Gu family in the Daotinsi is relatively upright, so it's good to get to know them and become familiar."
"Yes, yes, Elder. Don't worry!" Mo Hua nodded.
He was already quite close with Uncle Gu.
"Alright, you may go." Elder Xun waved his hand.
Mo Hua bowed respectfully and then left with a joyful heart.
He found Elder Song and told him that he wanted to take five days off, and that Elder Xun had agreed.
Elder Song was astonished and dissatisfied.
Elder Xun was too indulgent of this child!
Five days off was really too much!
Then he signed and stamped the approval for Mo Hua's leave.
"I don't care anyway. Take as many days as you like. I'll just stamp it..."
Elder Song didn't really care.
With the permission granted, Mo Hua happily returned to the disciples' residence.
His calculations were just right.
Five days of leave, plus the two-day weekend, made a total of seven days.
He had to capture Huo Fotu within seven days if he wanted to obtain the Meteor Fire Technique and establish a foundation for his fireball fusion forbidden technique.
If it took longer than seven days, he wouldn't be able to get involved anymore.
After seven days, Huo Fotu would either be captured by the Daotinsi or escape.
If he didn't get the Meteor Fire Technique, all his efforts would be in vain.
So...
Mo Hua's face turned resolute, and his eyes shone with determination. "Within seven days, Huo Fotu must die!"
(End of Chapter)
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