Chapter 677: Aristocrats
Chapter 677: Aristocrats
In the Qian Xue Province, the aristocratic families enjoyed a life of wealth and influence, their opulence evident at every turn. However, on the fringes, in the small city of Tongxian, life was a constant struggle, with each day uncertain.
For minor clans like the Qian family, they may have held some power in Tongxian, but near the Qian Xue Province, they faced oppression and were no different from ordinary unaffiliated cultivators.
Mo Hua suddenly recalled the words he had overheard when he was hiding in the cave on Da Hei Mountain, where the Qian family's ancestor was capturing the patriarch, Qian Hong, who was already dead:
"In this world, it's the survival of the fittest. The big fish eat the small fish, and the small fish eat the shrimp."
"The cultivation world is no different. Unaffiliated cultivators are exploited by minor clans, minor clans are oppressed by medium clans, and medium clans are suppressed by major aristocratic families."
"In other words, unaffiliated cultivators support the minor clans, the minor clans support the medium clans, and the medium clans support the major families..."
"Ultimately, it's the blood and sweat of the common unaffiliated cultivators that are being sucked dry..."
...
The ancestor of the Qian family was an evil man. He established the Black Mountain Evil Camp, kept demonic cultivators, killed people to refine elixirs, committed countless atrocities, and sought longevity for himself.
But some of the things he said seemed to be undeniable facts...
Mo Hua's feelings were complicated, and his expression was somewhat pensive.
Master Gu, noticing his young companion's compassionate gaze, narrowed his eyes slightly and personally poured Mo Hua another cup of fruit wine.
Mo Hua then thought of another question:
"Master Gu, the aristocratic families pursue profit. Logically, the unaffiliated cultivators in Guyang City originally made a living by refining 'array media' and should have been well-off."
"This proves that refining array media can be profitable."
"Why, then, did they deliberately fish out the pond and exhaust the mines to refine those luxurious spiritual artifacts? Why not just optimize the array media?"
"If we refine more array media and promote it, we can make spirit stones and make arrays more accessible. Isn't that a good thing?"
"Is it because luxurious spiritual artifacts are more profitable?"
Master Gu nodded, "Of course..."
"Ordinary array media is used by poor, low-level cultivators, while luxurious spiritual artifacts are used by the extravagant and noble upper-level cultivators."
"Even if they are both at the Qi Refining Realm, a thousand low-level cultivators cannot compare to the spending power of a single scion from an aristocratic family."
"Our Gu family also has industries, but our profits are not high, and our wealth is considered meager among aristocratic families. Our ancestors have always been strict with the family descendants, not allowing extravagance or waste."
"But other families, especially those with 'spirit mines' and countless industries, with extremely deep roots, are a different story..."
"The valuable Daoist robe worn by the direct descendants of those families is probably worth a thousand Qi Refining cultivators' yearly expenses..."
Master Gu's expression turned somewhat sighing as he spoke.
Mo Hua frowned, "Are luxurious spiritual artifacts difficult to refine?"
Master Gu shook his head, "To be honest, this type of luxurious spiritual artifact is actually quite ordinary in terms of craftsmanship. Their offensive and defensive capabilities are very weak, and they may even sacrifice practicality for aesthetics."
Mo Hua was puzzled, "Then what makes them so valuable?"
Master Gu sighed, "Their value lies in the word 'status'."
"Status?"
Master Gu explained, "For a spiritual artifact, the origin of the materials used, their rarity, the reputation of the artificer who crafted it, the age of the inherited techniques, and whether it's limited in production—these are all important factors."
"Without these 'considerations,' even if you use the same artificing techniques and create an identical luxurious spiritual artifact, it will be seen as a 'fake' and considered inferior counterfeit."
"So, this type of luxurious spiritual artifact is not something that an ordinary artificer can create."
"Additionally, the aristocratic families have no interest in promoting array media or popularizing array techniques."
Mo Hua was taken aback, surprised by this revelation.
Master Gu continued, "The aristocratic families aim to monopolize—to monopolize the inheritance of array techniques and the resources for artificing."
"If array techniques were widespread, a silk banner with a sixteen-pattern array could only fetch three hundred spirit stones."
"But if they monopolize the array techniques, a silk banner with just eleven patterns could be sold for three hundred spirit stones."
"The cost of artificing is lower, and the profit in spirit stones is higher."
"As long as they control the monopoly on array techniques, they can set any price they desire."
"They can earn spirit stones without lifting a finger, so why bother investing time and effort into researching the applications of array media, optimizing array techniques, and promoting the study of arrays?"
"These endeavors are time-consuming and laborious, and they do not bring any benefit to the aristocratic families, hence the current situation..."
"Array techniques are jealously guarded by the aristocratic families. They are either treated as exclusive secrets, locked away in storage, or left to gather dust in a corner."
"Ordinary cultivators, lacking knowledge of array techniques, can only rely on the aristocratic families, helpless to do otherwise. Ordinary array masters, without access to array technique inheritances, have no choice but to attach themselves to these families..."
Master Gu's tone turned solemn, and he heaved a sigh.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, deep in thought.
Master Gu glanced at him, taking in his expression, and then smiled apologetically, "Let's not talk about these things anymore. I intended to treat Young Master Mo to a pleasant meal, and I apologize for bringing up such mood-dampening topics."
Master Gu poured Mo Hua another cup of wine.
Mo Hua drank silently and didn't say anything further until the end of the banquet.
As they parted ways, Master Gu said, "During the next break, I will send someone to deliver the refined array media to the Gu family's main branch in Qingzhou City. Young Master Mo can pick it up at your convenience."
Mo Hua bowed and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Master Gu."
"You're welcome, Young Master Mo," Master Gu waved his hand. He stood at the entrance of the Xianhe Tower, watching Mo Hua leave, and then heaved a soft sigh before turning to leave himself.
After leaving, Master Gu purchased some materials for refining array media in Qingzhou City and then returned to Guyang City by carriage.
On the carriage, his disciple, Da Chuan, was also present.
Master Gu acknowledged him with a gentle "hm," but there were some things he chose not to say.
Once upon a time, Guyan City had also thrived, not as grandly as Qingzhou, but bustling with people and lively conversations, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Now, Qingzhou City had become even more prosperous.
However, Guyan City would forever be mired in decline...
In the cultivation world, there was not just one Qingzhou City, but countless cities like Guyan, forgotten and left behind.
Master Gu kept these thoughts to himself, knowing that Da Chuan's inexperience would prevent him from fully understanding.
After a while, Da Chuan suddenly remembered something and, looking at Master Gu, asked in a low voice, "Master, why were you so polite to that young Master Mo?"
Master Gu was a Jin Dan stage cultivator and a third-rank artificer—a position of considerable prestige.
On the other hand, young Master Mo was only at the early Qi Refining stage, appearing small and frail.
While Da Chuan believed that showing respect to young Master Mo was appropriate, he couldn't understand why his master had lowered himself so much, even going to the lengths of traveling to Qingzhou City and waiting patiently at the Gu family residence, all just to spend spirit stones to treat young Master Mo to a fish dinner.
Da Chuan was perplexed.
Master Gu simply replied, "You wouldn't understand..."
"Is young Master Mo of a very noble status?" Da Chuan inquired softly.
Master Gu thought for a moment, then shook his head, furrowing his brow. "I can't be sure..."
Da Chuan was taken aback.
Master Gu's eyes narrowed as he pondered, "I asked a cousin in the clan to inquire about this young Master Mo. Although he frequently visits the Gu family, it seems there is no blood relation between them..."
"While he has gained the favor of Madam Shangguan, he doesn't seem to be directly related to the Shangguan or Wenren families."
"He joined the Tai Xu Sect, claiming to be a 'lone cultivator'..."
"A lone cultivator?" Da Chuan paused.
Master Gu nodded slightly.
"But..." Da Chuan hesitated, "if he really is a lone cultivator, then aren't we wasting our kindness on him?"
"No..." Master Gu's gaze intensified, "an ordinary lone cultivator wouldn't receive such favorable treatment from the Gu and Shangguan families, nor would they be able to join a sect like Tai Xu."
"But what if..." Da Chuan ventured weakly, "what if he really is a lone cultivator?"
"If he truly is..." Master Gu's expression turned solemn, "then that would be a good thing..."
Da Chuan was bewildered, his confusion evident on his face.
Master Gu took a long breath and sighed meaningfully, "There are some hardships in this world that the offspring of aristocratic families will never understand..."
"If you haven't experienced it firsthand, seen it with your own eyes, and lived through it, you will never truly comprehend..."
Da Chuan's expression was a mix of astonishment and vague understanding as he nodded slightly.
Master Gu's eyes narrowed, and he recalled the clear and compassionate gaze of Mo Hua, softly murmuring, "This young master may very well be our 'benefactor'..."
...
Upon returning to the sect, Mo Hua found himself deep in thought, realizing that he had overlooked an important issue.
He had always been concerned about the sect, aristocratic families, their legacies, criminal cultivators, evil cultivators, demon cultivators, human traffickers, and even the evil god.
However, he had neglected to consider how cultivators in the smaller states and cities surrounding Qian Xue Province lived their lives.
His mother's words once again echoed in his mind.
"It's not just array masters; all cultivators are the same. When people strive for higher realms, they rarely look back at those below them..."
Cultivators sought the truth of the world.
If one couldn't see the true nature of the world and the myriad states of its beings, how could they hope to attain the Way? Mo Hua walked through the Tai Xu Sect, gazing up at the vast sky, then down at the ground beneath his feet, even giving it an experimental stomp, and nodded slightly.
...
Less than ten days later, Mo Hua, who had been cultivating in the sect, unexpectedly received a storage bag.
Inside were twenty sets of each of the three types of array media: array plates, array flags, and array bases, all refined by Master Gu and specially delivered to the Gu family, with Wenren Wan then sending them to the Tai Xu Sect.
Mo Hua was pleasantly surprised.
He hadn't expected Master Gu to refine the array media so quickly and go out of his way to send them over, clearly giving this matter a lot of attention.
Mo Hua was grateful and vowed to help Master Gu and his family if the opportunity arose.
From then on, during his breaks from cultivation, Mo Hua began to study these array media.
While they appeared intricate, their structure was quite simple.
Being an array master himself, and having "borrowed" the designs from the Artificing Manual, Mo Hua immediately understood their workings.
Drawing array formations on them was also a straightforward task.
After all, these were basic array media, and Mo Hua quickly familiarized himself with them by experimenting with a few.
Controlling spiritual energy to manipulate ink and create formations on the ground was undoubtedly impressive, but it could also be overly showy. If he relied too much on this method, he might end up attracting unwanted attention and limiting his options.
Therefore, Mo Hua decided to primarily use standard array media to cast his formations, thus concealing his exceptional talent in this area.
He tried to blend in with his fellow disciples, adopting the identity of an ordinary array master.
This would prevent them from constantly being astonished by his abilities, and he wouldn't have to keep explaining himself.
With the array media refined and the formations drawn, Mo Hua could now begin to experiment with their use.
He secretly contacted Gu Changhuai:
"Uncle Gu, I've found a despicable, wanted criminal cultivator who has killed people and is on the run. Can you put out a bounty for me?
"Isn't this 'fellow cultivator' you're talking about actually you?" Gu Changhuai asked.
Mo Hua denied it, "How is that possible?"
Gu Changhuai knew that if Mo Hua wanted to be evasive, he wouldn't utter a single truth, so he didn't bother pressing further. Instead, he asked directly, "What cultivation level is he at, what's his name, and what crimes has he committed?"
"He's at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, with the nickname 'Overlord Dragon'. I only know that he has definitely killed people, but I don't know the details of his other crimes..." Mo Hua answered.
"What if Uncle Gu, you look into his records at the Path Tribunal and see if there are any other misdeeds he has committed?" Mo Hua suggested.
Gu Changhuai fell silent.
At that moment, he felt like Mo Hua was the "judge" and he was the "executor" working for Mo Hua...
However, Gu Changhuai was helpless in this situation. He could only search through the archives himself.
Mo Hua patiently waited.
After a while, Gu Changhuai replied, "He has committed quite a few misdeeds. He has killed people in the mountains, robbed others at the ferry crossing, and trafficked prohibited pills..."
"Has he trafficked cultivators as well?" Mo Hua asked.
"I haven't found any evidence of such crimes..." Gu Changhuai answered.
Filled with righteous indignation, Mo Hua exclaimed, "This person is truly evil!"
He then added, "I think he's worth at least a thousand merit points!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Changhuai became annoyed.
Mo Hua, this little brat, was haggling so much that even the people at the Path Tribunal in Qian Xue Province had heard about it.
"Are you trying to set the price yourself now?" Gu Changhuai asked, displeased.
Mo Hua argued, "It's not setting a price, it's called punishing evil and upholding justice!"
"I'm taking on this bounty, and together with my fellow disciples, we will punish this evil-doer. Can't the Path Tribunal give a little more merit points and praise this 'good deed'?"
"Punishing evil and upholding justice!"
Gu Changhuai was left speechless.
Was that a little?
Mo Hua had the audacity to ask for a thousand points outright.
"Five hundred," Gu Changhuai countered.
Mo Hua was shocked. "Uncle Gu, how can you 'bargain' like that? You slashed the price by half in one go?"
Although he himself had done the same...
"Nine hundred!" Mo Hua tried to negotiate.
"Five hundred!" Gu Changhuai didn't follow Mo Hua's expected script and stood firm on the price, not budging an inch.
"Eight hundred!" Mo Hua tried again.
"Five hundred and ten," Gu Changhuai offered.
"Uncle Gu, you're being too stingy..." Mo Hua said helplessly.
As the judge of the Path Tribunal, Gu Changhuai didn't feel ashamed to haggle over ten merit points at a time.
Unmoved, Gu Changhuai said, "I want you to understand that merit points are hard to come by, and each one is extremely valuable."
Mo Hua humphed, "I've done bounties before, and I know the value of a mid-Foundation Establishment criminal cultivator. How could I not know their worth?"
"At least seven hundred and fifty!" Mo Hua insisted.
"Five hundred and twenty..." Gu Changhuai countered.
...
After some "haggling", Mo Hua finally settled the bounty at "six hundred merit points".
Additionally, if there were other criminal cultivators involved or any relevant important clues, the price would be further negotiated.
Mo Hua nodded, only then reluctantly agreeing.
Six hundred points, to be split five ways, meant one hundred and twenty points each.
It was acceptable, if not entirely satisfying.
A hundred points or so wasn't a large amount, but he had done his best.
Afterwards, Mo Hua and Gu Changhuai began to "conspire" on how to post this bounty and ensure that Mo Hua would be the one to claim it.
"Tomorrow night, at the first quarter of zi hour, the Path Tribunal will release the bounty. The conditions are: early Foundation Establishment stage, second-rank array master, Water Prison Technique, and Concealment Technique," Gu Changhuai instructed.
"You better act fast. If someone else takes it, don't blame me," he added.
Gu Changhuai continued, "Also, remember to erase this message and don't leave any evidence."
Mo Hua nodded repeatedly, replying, "Rest assured, Uncle Gu. I'm an expert at this, and I won't leave any 'evidence' behind!"
"..." Gu Changhuai was speechless.
This kid made it sound like he was covering up his crimes...
Gu Changhuai sighed and then ignored Mo Hua.
Mo Hua noted down Gu Changhuai's message and promptly erased it, including the magnetic ink, the unstable magnetic patterns, and even the secondary thunder patterns.
When it came to such tasks, Mo Hua was indeed very "professional".
The next day, at the first quarter of zi hour, Mo Hua didn't even practice his array techniques. Instead, he held the Grand Void Token and focused all his attention on the bounty missions within the Bounty Scroll.
There were countless bounty missions listed in the scroll, each with its own set of magnetic text and images.
As soon as the first quarter of zi hour arrived, a new mission suddenly appeared, flashing with light.
Mo Hua's spiritual sense was extremely sharp, and in an instant, he spotted the keywords "Water Prison Technique", "Concealment Technique", "array master", and so on.
With a quick scan, he also found the words "Overlord Dragon".
That's him!
After confirming, Mo Hua acted swiftly and applied for the bounty, and on the other end, Gu Changhuai immediately approved it upon seeing "Mo Hua's" name.
This bounty mission had appeared and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
At that moment, several other mid-to-late Foundation Establishment disciples of the Grand Void Sect were also eyeing the bounty missions within the Grand Void Token, and they happened to catch a glimpse of this new mission. But before they could even read it, it vanished, leaving them confused.
"What happened? Wasn't that a new bounty?"
"I didn't even get a chance to look at it, and it's gone already. How annoying! Who was it? Their spiritual sense is so fast... No, their hands are so fast... I just blinked, and it was gone..."
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
