Chapter 708: Spiritual Legacy
Chapter 708: Spiritual Legacy
On the misty riverbank, Mo Hua and the "Young Master" within the black mist only exchanged a glance.
Soon, the extravagant flower boat sailed back into the mysterious night, gradually disappearing from view.
Mo Hua's gaze was profound as he silently committed those eyes to memory before continuing along the riverbank on his return journey to the sect.
The rest of the journey passed without incident.
Half a day later, Mo Hua returned to the sect and first reported to Elder Song, who was in charge of attendance, explaining the reason for his absence.
To Mo Hua's surprise, Elder Song, who was usually unyielding, had an unexpectedly pleasant attitude and even seemed a little proud.
It seemed that Mo Hua's request for leave had somehow done him a great favor.
Mo Hua was perplexed.
After bidding Elder Song farewell, Mo Hua went to pay his respects to Master Xun.
Mo Hua understood that Elder Song's leniency was most likely due to Master Xun's influence.
Other disciples didn't have the privilege of taking so much time off.
After greeting Master Xun, who was preoccupied with a grave matter, he only asked Mo Hua a few brief questions. Due to his busy schedule, he didn't say much more, but the look in his eyes as he gazed at Mo Hua was thoughtful and profound.
Mo Hua was a little confused, but seeing that Master Xun seemed occupied with important matters, he didn't want to disturb him. So, he respectfully said, "Master, I bid you farewell."
Master Xun nodded and gave his usual reminder, "Focus on your cultivation and the study of formations. Stay diligent and free from distractions."
"Yes," Mo Hua replied solemnly, and after bowing respectfully, he took his leave.
Master Xun stared at the direction Mo Hua had left in, his brow furrowed in thought for a long while before he finally gathered his thoughts.
He would have to find time later to look into the matter regarding Mo Hua.
For now, the pressing issue...
Master Xun lowered his head to look at the table.
On the table lay the Destiny Compass, a map, and a jade slip.
The Destiny Compass, capable of divining cause and effect.
The map displayed a massive spiritual mineral mountain range, winding and twisting, spanning across the entirety of Qian Xue State and the vast surrounding lands, resembling a dragon formed by spiritual energy.
On the map was an annotation of four characters:
"Qianlong Mountain Range."
Within the jade slip was information about the rankings of the sects within Qian Xue State: the four great sects, the eight grand gates, the twelve streams, and the hundred schools of Qian Xue.
These rankings were determined by the "Forum Assembly," especially the most renowned and prestigious "Sword Discussion Assembly" of Qian Xue.
With this compass, one could glimpse the cause and effect of the past.
The jade slip and the map held the key to the sect's fame and fortune.
The fate of the Tahuyimen sect rested upon these three items.
However, at present, the Destiny Compass could not pierce through the mist of uncertainty, leaving the future shrouded in unpredictability.
The other two items might also be subject to change.
The heavens may bring unforeseen storms.
Master Xun gazed out the window.
Beyond it, Mount Tahuyi stood as it always had, ancient and serene, its pavilions and towers nestled among the lush greenery.
The disciples devoted themselves to their cultivation, and the elders imparted their teachings.
Misty clouds drifted over the mountains.
All seemed peaceful, and time flowed gently.
But beneath the surface, turbulent undercurrents were already stirring.
Fortunes change for both men and sects, and where there is comfort, disaster may soon follow.
If one does not plan ahead and prepare, the survival of the sect, which seems distant now, may suddenly become an imminent crisis.
A faint sense of crisis loomed in Master Xun's heart.
Outside the Tahuyimen sect, danger lurked in every corner.
"But... where does this danger originate from...?"
"How can our Tahuyimen sect break free from this predicament? How can we find a glimmer of hope amidst the sinister intentions that surround us...?"
As Master Xun looked upon the vast and ancient Tahuyimen sect, his brow furrowed deeper, and his aged face grew more solemn, as heavy as a mountain.
...
In a forbidden land within Qian Xue State.
In a gloomy chamber.
Mr. Tu's face was frighteningly grim.
Above the altar, beneath the massive white skeleton, the eerie emerald-green candlelight made his face look like that of a malevolent ghost, twisted and terrifying.
His voice carried both anger and deep fear.
"The River God is missing..."
"The incarnation of the Godmaster has vanished."
"The altar has been destroyed."
"The blood-soaked fishing village has been thoroughly searched by someone, digging three feet into the ground..."
"Even the Godmaster's minions have been captured..."
A terrifying divine punishment descended, filling the chamber with furious and sinister thoughts.
Mr. Tu knelt on the ground, his entire body prostrate, his teeth clenched tightly, blood seeping between them.
His limbs were also somewhat twisted, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead as his voice trembled.
"I beg for the Godmaster's forgiveness..."
"I already have a lead... I..."
Mr. Tu coughed up blood, unable to continue.
As the furious sinister thoughts gradually faded, and the divine punishment eased, Mr. Tu coughed up a few more mouthfuls of blood before he could speak again.
"It's... Tahuyimen..."
"The divine arts of Qian Xue State are in decline, and the Shinto formations have disappeared. Some of the old ones are either greedy for fame and fortune or only concerned with self-preservation..."
"Sacrificing the essentials for the sake of prosperity, indulging desires while neglecting the heart, the path of divine thoughts is in great decline."
"Only Tahuyimen still retains some vestiges of the divine thought sword path."
"Tahuyimen..."
Mr. Tu's gaze turned distant, "Hundreds of years ago, it was the same. Soon after the construction of the River God Temple, a Golden Core realm genius swordsman from Tahuyimen discovered it."
"That person cultivated the divine thought transformation sword technique and had a small achievement in the sword path. If it weren't for a slight difference..."
Mr. Tu's eyes showed a hint of fear, "... he would have destroyed the embryo of the Godmaster's incarnation and ruined the altar of the River God Temple, causing my decades of hard work to fail."
"Hundreds of years ago, it was a sword cultivator from the Tahuyimen who broke into the River God Temple. And now, hundreds of years later, the nightmare has ended, and the River God Temple lies in ruins. The cause and effect of this incident most likely also falls upon... the Tahuyimen!"
A chilly gleam flashed in Mr. Tu's eyes.
"To be able to find the entrance to the fishing village, to reach the River God Temple undetected, to enter the Godmaster's nightmare, to slaughter the countless demons within, and even to dare to... "
Slay the River God and the incarnation of the Godmaster...
Mr. Tu paused before continuing, "This person is most likely a master of the sword path from the Tahuyimen in recent years, or perhaps even an ancient recluse from the rear mountains..."
"He wanted to avenge the genius swordsman who failed and broke his sword all those years ago!"
"Even if he isn't a direct descendant of the Tahuyimen, he must have a close connection to them. Cultivating the method of transforming mental power into sword energy, pursuing the path of unity between the sword and the mind."
"And it's not just the Tahuyimen..."
Mr. Tu's heart trembled as he thought of an ancient, massive, and unspeakable three-way merged sword art lineage, his eyes filled with hidden terror.
"Great River Casting the Divine Sword, Empty Space Evolving Sword Qi, Great Void Transforming Sword Intent..."
With each phrase, Mr. Tu felt a chill in his heart, and by the end, his entire body was trembling slightly from the overwhelming sword intent, and he dared not continue.
Finally, Mr. Tu knelt devoutly before the huge, ferocious, ram-horned white skull.
"The Tahuyimen is the root of all chaos."
"Gu Changhai and the Gu family are the fangs and claws that aid the evil."
"The plan must be accelerated..."
"The sects that are destined to decline will do so; the legacies that are meant to be extinguished will be snuffed out; those who dare to stand in the way of the Godmaster's grand plan will face eternal damnation..."
"The Fleshly Stage has already been paved; the evil scourge is being nurtured; the Godmaster's plan is irreversible; the Godmaster's descent is imminent..."
And the bloodline of the Great Wilderness will be able to see the light of day once more...
Mr. Tu kowtowed, his eyes filled with tears of blood and devotion.
...
Several days later, in the small fishing village.
After Mo Hua and the others left, people from the Dao Court came and took care of the aftermath, destroying everything related to the evil god as Mo Hua had instructed.
Gu Changhai made an exception and allowed the cultivators from the small fishing village to register as cultivators, affiliating themselves with a nearby second-rate immortal city.
This way, if anything happened, the Dao Court would also look after them.
The Gu family and several other large and small families in the area were also informed, and they were not allowed to bully or oppress the fishing cultivators.
Life became a little easier for the fishing cultivators in the village.
However, occasionally, during their free time from fishing, they would still recall fragments of their "nightmares."
"It's strange, but I kept having nightmares every now and then. I dreamed that I was drowned while fishing, or that I was eaten by water demons. I'd wake up in a cold sweat, my back soaked..."
"I dreamed that I starved to death, and when I woke up, I was even hungrier..."
"I dreamed that my boat was capsized by the waves, and several water demons fought over eating me. It still hurts just thinking about it..."
...
Someone sighed, "Me too. I dreamed that someone took away the wife I married after selling my pot and working tirelessly."
Everyone sighed in agreement, and then they all paused, "Wait, don't you not have a wife?"
The fishing cultivator replied unhappily, "What do you know about dreams? It was just a dream! Why are you arguing about whether it's true or not?"
"Even though the dream isn't real, the suffering is!"
The others were left speechless.
At this point, someone suddenly spoke up with a serious expression, still looking a bit scared, "I dreamed of something even more terrifying..."
Seeing everyone's attention on him, he swallowed his saliva, his eyes filled with fear as he clearly still felt lingering fear, "I dreamed of a huge fish monster with a head as big as a temple, whiskers as thick as trees, sharp white fangs, and a blood-soaked body. It looked terrifying and was eating people everywhere. I almost got eaten by it..."
As soon as he said this, several people's faces changed.
"What's wrong?"
"I also dreamed of that fish monster..."
"Me too! It was so scary that I didn't dare to mention it..."
"And me! I was afraid of breaking a taboo, so I kept my mouth shut, fearing that speaking of it would bring disaster..."
"Dreams can be both real and fake, and no one can guarantee that this huge fish monster doesn't exist. If it does, and I speak of it, then it knows, I'm finished."
"But isn't it dead? What's there to be afraid of?"
"Nonsense! How do you know it's dead?"
"I saw it with my own eyes in my dream..."
"I didn't see it."
"I did..."
Opinions varied, with some claiming to have seen it and others denying it, creating a confusing mix of accounts.
One of them huffed and added some colorful details with a proud look on his face, "You guys just didn't see the end..."
"I saw it with my own eyes that day! The blood-soaked fish monster was everywhere, grabbing people to eat, when suddenly a golden light flashed, and a little golden immortal descended from the sky, holding a golden sword that shone brightly..."
"The fish monster looked fierce, with bloody waves crashing, and its aura was very arrogant. But it was no match for the little immortal.
The storyteller shook his head in awe as he finished, clearly moved by the tale.
The other fishermen who hadn't witnessed the fish monster's death also gasped in amazement.
"What a valiant little immortal!"
"So powerful and awe-inspiring!"
Someone couldn't help but ask, "Why is this little immortal so small? Doesn't he grow up?"
"How should I know... I know nothing of immortals..."
"Perhaps he hasn't perfected his cultivation yet."
"He's already so formidable at such a young age. I shudder to think what he'll be capable of when he grows up..."
"That's only natural..."
"So, where did this little immortal go?"
Everyone looked at each other, shaking their heads in unison. "After slaying the river monster, he disappeared without a trace. Immortals come and go as they please; who knows where he went..."
"Wait, are you sure he was an immortal?"
"He entered our dreams and slew the river demon. If that's not an immortal, then what is? Have you ever seen a real immortal?"
The man shook his head. "No, I haven't..."
"Then that settles it."
As the discussion continued, someone spoke up mysteriously: "I think the nightmares and misfortunes we've been experiencing lately are somehow related to that blood-colored fish monster."
The others paused, then nodded slowly. "That makes sense..."
"What should we do if that fish monster comes back?"
"Kill it..."
"Who will kill it? Are you going to do it?"
"Not me, that's for sure..."
"Should we ask that little immortal to do it again?"
"That little immortal already did us a huge favor by killing the fish monster once. Why would he do it again for no reason?"
"True..."
"Well," someone suggested, "what if we set up an altar and worship this little immortal?"
The fishermen hesitated, then fell into deep thought.
The man continued, "Think about it. If we don't usually burn incense and only do so when we're in trouble, it probably won't work. That little immortal wouldn't just help us out of the blue like that."
"But if we worship him every day, offer him incense, and then when evil spirits or monsters come, he helps us by slaying them with his sword, wouldn't that be reasonable?"
The group of fishermen suddenly understood, nodding in agreement.
"That makes sense..."
"That would align with the principles of cause and effect."
"It's only right that we worship him. After all, we owe that little immortal a great debt of gratitude, and it will give us peace of mind."
Fishing on the river was a dangerous endeavor, with life and death hanging in the balance.
These fishermen were accustomed to living with fear, and it was almost instinctual for them to seek something to worship and pray to for protection, even if it was just for the sake of their own peace of mind.
Even if they didn't receive any real protection, at least they would feel reassured.
So, the fishermen joined forces and carved a small immortal's temple into the mountain wall behind the village.
It was more of a small shrine than a temple.
They carved out a small space in the mountain wall, placed a small offering table, arranged some fruits and other offerings, and in the center, they placed a small clay statue.
This clay statue was crafted by Old Yu.
In his younger days, he had traveled far and wide and had seen his fair share of the world.
He had seen many stone and clay statues of deities in temples, and now he could put that experience to use.
However, when it came time to shape the face, Old Yu hesitated and asked, "What did this little immortal look like?"
He had raised the blood fish and his faith had been devoured to a large extent, leaving his spiritual sense weakened.
In the dream, he had passed out early on and hadn't witnessed the little immortal with the golden sword slaying the fish monster.
"He was covered in golden light, so I couldn't see clearly..." someone replied.
"Go and ask if anyone saw the little immortal's face clearly," Old Yu suggested.
But when they asked around, everyone shook their heads.
"Old Yu, just sculpt whatever you think. It doesn't have to be exact; it's just a clay statue, not a true likeness," someone said.
The others agreed, "Yeah, that's right."
Old Yu thought about it and felt that it made sense.
A little immortal who had shown great kindness to their small fishing village...
For some reason, Mo Hua's face came to mind.
The more Old Yu thought about it, the more suitable it seemed.
If there really was such a little immortal, he should look like Little Master Mo.
Handsome and friendly, with shining eyes, a gentle aura, an extraordinary immortal bearing, and a strong sense of righteousness.
So, Old Yu crafted a clay statue of a little immortal with a golden sword on his back, sitting upright, resembling Mo Hua.
However, his sculpting skills were lacking, and the statue only bore a 50-60% resemblance to Mo Hua.
Only the eyebrows and eyes were lively and vivid, capturing about 80-90% of Mo Hua's essence.
Once the clay statue was placed in the little temple, the fishermen would offer incense there whenever they went fishing on cloudy days, in the rain, during difficult years, or when plagued by frequent nightmares and feared the presence of evil spirits.
Unbeknownst to the fishermen, a weak little silver fish slowly swam into the small temple and hid behind the imposing statue of the little immortal, basking in the incense offered to Mo Hua and gradually healing its spiritual body.
(End of Chapter)
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