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Chapter 726: The End
Chapter 726: The End
Breaking through his bottleneck and reaching the middle stage of foundation establishment, Mo Hua's blood qi became deeper and more robust.
However, due to his innate physical weakness and lack of focus on cultivating his body, even with the enhancement in blood qi, his physical strength didn't increase significantly.
His spiritual power, on the other hand, had become more robust and substantial.
With this improvement, he found it easier to wield various magical techniques, and their might and speed had increased considerably. Mo Hua felt that he had indeed grown stronger.
But as he thought about it and compared himself to Cheng Mo and Si Tu Jian, he suddenly realized a problem: as his cultivation had broken through and his strength increased, the gap between him and his fellow sect members seemed to have widened...
His spiritual root was of middling quality.
However, the spiritual roots of the other disciples of the Tai Xu Men sect started at the upper-middle grade.
Many of Cheng Mo, Si Tu Jian, and the others had spiritual roots of upper-middle or even top-grade.
Even Hao Xuan had a top-grade spiritual root!
The difference in the grade of their spiritual roots was almost a full major level and more.
The same was true for their cultivation techniques.
Although the Tian Yan Jue was special, it did not enhance spiritual power, and in essence, it was also a middle-lower grade technique, just like his spiritual root.
At the early stage of foundation establishment, his spiritual power was already inferior to others.
Now that he had reached the middle stage, his spiritual power had increased, but others had improved even more, causing the gap to widen further.
Mo Hua sighed.
For a moment, his feelings were complicated.
However, it was normal to have such a gap since he had originally been a loose cultivator, and his spiritual root, foundation, lineage, spiritual power, and blood qi were all inferior to those of the other disciples.
Moreover, with the stunning talents of his junior martial sister and brother, he could accept this difference.
Mo Hua quickly adjusted his mindset.
However, regardless, he was now a middle-stage foundation establishment cultivator! The next step was the late stage of foundation establishment, followed by the Golden Core stage!
Mo Hua's eyes sparkled like stars, and a bright smile appeared on his handsome face.
As dawn broke and the morning sun rose, Mo Hua finished his cultivation and slowly stood up, stretching his arms.
It had already been three years since he entered the Tai Xu Men sect, and during this time, Mo Hua had grown taller without realizing it. Now, he looked like a graceful young boy with exquisite features.
Afterward, he continued his usual routine of reviewing the array manuals and practicing array formations.
Unfortunately, his spiritual sense remained at seventeen threads.
The Heavenly Dao's law restriction was still in place.
After breaking through to the middle stage of foundation establishment, Mo Hua could feel that his spiritual sense had also strengthened. However, the part that had improved was "deducted" by the law.
After devouring his spiritual sense, the void law loosened slightly, as if it had been "filled" to its satisfaction.
It seemed that his guess was correct.
Next, he would have to find a way to completely satiate it.
Only by removing the restriction of the Heavenly Dao's law could his spiritual sense progress further.
Only then would he be able to learn those more advanced second-grade high-level array formations and even that second-grade twenty-thread secondary thunder current absolute array.
Mo Hua made his plans in his heart.
To satisfy this law, he estimated that slowly cultivating his spiritual sense wouldn't be enough.
He would need to "supplement" it.
However, supplementing his spiritual sense would require him to leave the Qian Xue Zhou continent.
He wouldn't be able to do it this year; at the very least, he would have to wait for this year to pass, enter the middle stage of foundation establishment for a year, adapt and stabilize himself, and only then consider supplementing his spiritual sense.
He wondered if Elder Xun would agree to lift his "house arrest" by next year.
Mo Hua pondered this in his heart.
However, there was no rush for now, as he still wanted to watch the remainder of the Sword Discussion Conference.
...
The Sword Discussion Conference was still ongoing and approaching its climax.
Those who had persisted until now were undoubtedly the cream of the crop among the proud disciples of the various sects, and their foundations and cultivations were deeply rooted and formidable.
This was especially true for the outstanding disciples of the Four Great Sects.
Each of them had surging spiritual power that was vast like the ocean, causing Mo Hua to be secretly astonished as he watched.
Although they couldn't compare to Huo Fo Tu, they weren't far behind either.
But there was only one Huo Fo Tu.
On the other hand, the Four Great Sects, including the Qian Dao Zong, had at least five such disciples participating in the Sword Discussion Conference.
In terms of scheming, strategies, methods, and techniques, they might not be as good as Huo Fo Tu, but their spiritual roots and cultivation techniques were superior.
Mo Hua marveled at this in his heart.
Indeed, the Qian Xue Zhou continent and the Four Great Sects were formidable, with deep roots that were truly terrifying. The disciples of these sects were exceptionally outstanding, at least in terms of cultivation.
They were much stronger than him...
As the Sword Discussion Conference progressed, the contestants in the later rounds were almost exclusively disciples of the Four Great Sects.
This was especially true for the top four contestants and the quarter-finalists.
The remaining hundred sects of the Qian Xue continent were nearly wiped out.
Even the twelve minor sects had very few representatives left.
Although the eight major sects were present, they weren't particularly prominent.
While the Tai Xu Men sect had members who made it to the round of sixteen, they only managed to place eleventh in the end.
Unlike the Tai Xu Men sect, the Chong Xu Men sect made steady progress and placed eighth.
Meanwhile, the Tai Ah Men sect, relying on their solid sword techniques and sharp spirit swords, charged forward and only fell short in comparison to the Four Great Sects.
In the end, they were just one step away from the finals.
However, they lacked a bit of luck, and ultimately, they were narrowly defeated by the proud disciple of the Long Ding Zong sect, placing fifth.
This was the best result among the sects outside the Four Great Sects.
From this point on, the top four contestants and the finalists were all disciples of the Four Great Sects, including the Qian Dao Zong sect.
The top four matches and the final match were the highlights of the conference.
On the day of the top four matches, Mo Hua arrived at the Lun Dao Mountain early, intending to watch the show. However, he unexpectedly ran into Ouyang Feng.
Mo Hua's expression lit up, and he quickly greeted him, "Brother Ouyang!"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng turned around and glanced in the direction of the voice. He was slightly startled to see a graceful and handsome young boy calling him "brother."
After a closer look, he recognized Mo Hua.
Ouyang Feng smiled gently and said, "Long time no see, Junior Brother Mo."
Mo Hua nodded repeatedly, "Long time no see."
When he had first enrolled, he had always followed Brother Ouyang Feng to complete tasks.
It had been over a year since the two of them last met.
Mo Hua looked around and noticed that Ouyang Feng was alone. He asked curiously, "Senior Brother Feng, are you here alone to watch the Sword Discussion Conference?"
Ouyang Feng replied in a gentle voice, "I came with my sect members, but I arrived ahead of them. They will be here soon."
"Oh," Mo Hua nodded.
"By the way," Mo Hua said with a hint of regret, "I watched the match between the Tai Ah Men and the Tian Jian Men. Tai Ah Men was so close to winning and advancing to the top four."
A complex expression flashed across Ouyang Feng's face, and a hint of a bitter smile tugged at his lips. "It's not that simple. It may seem like they were just a bit short, but in reality, there was no way they could have won..."
Mo Hua was taken aback and looked at Ouyang Feng with a puzzled expression.
Ouyang Feng met Mo Hua's clear and sharp gaze, and he suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. He offered a gentle smile and explained,
"My Tai Ah Men is only one of the eight major sects, and compared to the four great sects, our foundation and heritage fall short by a large margin. Although it seems like we were just a bit away from victory, in truth, we lack the accumulation of many years, and this gap cannot be bridged in a short time. Winning would have been wonderful, but even in defeat, it is understandable and not something to be discouraged about..."
Mo Hua nodded slowly, "Senior Brother Feng is right."
He glanced at Ouyang Feng again and asked, "Senior Brother Feng, will you be participating in the next Sword Discussion Conference?"
"Yes," Ouyang Feng replied calmly, but a fleeting shadow of gloom passed through his eyes, devoid of any joy or anticipation.
Mo Hua's brows furrowed slightly.
He wanted to ask something else, but just then, several disciples wearing the robes of the Tai Ah Men approached and bowed respectfully. "Senior Brother Feng, the Elder is calling for you."
Ouyang Feng nodded slightly, "I understand."
Then he turned to Mo Hua and apologized, "Junior Brother Mo, please excuse me."
"Okay," Mo Hua nodded and waved his hand, "See you later, Senior Brother Feng."
As Ouyang Feng turned to leave, his expression lost its warmth, and a hint of shadow crept into his eyes.
Mo Hua, with his keen perception, noticed this subtle change.
He stood there, watching as Ouyang Feng and the group of Tai Ah Men disciples walked away, his gaze sharpening.
Senior Brother Feng seemed a little different from his previous impression.
He wondered if something had happened...
Mo Hua frowned slightly.
Soon after, Cheng Mo and his group arrived as well.
They walked up to Mo Hua and greeted him, "Little Senior Brother."
Mo Hua smiled and returned their greetings.
Cheng Mo said, "Mo Hua, I've found a great spot with the best view. Let me take you there."
"Okay," Mo Hua nodded.
The group set off towards the southeast corner of the Sword Discussion Conference venue.
Along the way, one of the disciples sighed,
"I wonder when our Tai Xu Men will be able to participate in the finals..."
"Forget the finals, even making it to the top four would be amazing."
"Being among the top four would give our sect a higher ranking, which means a larger share of the spiritual mines on Qian Long Mountain, more spirit stones, and rewards from the Dao Court."
"Rewards from the Dao Court?" Mo Hua was surprised.
"Yes," one of the disciples explained, "Usually, for grand events like the Qian Xue State Sword Discussion Conference, the Dao Court offers additional rewards."
"These rewards vary with each conference."
"They include rare and supreme Dao techniques, precious elixirs, and invaluable treasures for cultivation. There are also some formations and talismans."
Mo Hua was curious, "What kinds of formations are rewarded?"
The disciple shook his head, "I don't know about that..."
"I don't think formations were rewarded this year."
"Nor in the previous conference."
"Now that I think about it, there haven't been formation rewards for quite a few conferences."
"Formations are the least useful. Unless you're a formation master, receiving a formation as a reward is pointless. You can only trade it with someone else or hand it over to your family to gain merit."
"True, they are far less practical than spiritual artifacts, Dao techniques, and elixirs, which can be used by most cultivators..."
...
The disciples continued to discuss the matter.
Mo Hua nodded, his curiosity piqued.
He wondered what kind of formations would be rewarded at the Sword Discussion Conference.
The conference proceeded as planned.
From the semi-finals to the finals, Mo Hua watched every match without fail.
The geniuses of the four great sects truly lived up to their reputation, with no weaknesses in their cultivation, Dao techniques, spiritual artifacts, and more.
Within the void formation, they battled fiercely, unleashing their full power. The surging spiritual power, combined with supreme Dao techniques and top-grade spiritual artifacts, created a breathtaking display.
All the disciples watching were stunned.
Even the elders and the upper echelons of the Dao Court and other powers looked on with approval.
Mo Hua witnessed the pinnacle of the Sword Discussion Conference, the true elites among the disciples.
These geniuses showcased their prowess in front of countless spectators, displaying the grace and might of the heaven's pride. Their performances elicited awe and admiration from the crowd.
At that moment, Mo Hua was merely an observer, quietly watching from below.
Although he was the "Little Senior Brother" of the Tai Xu Men, in the context of the Sword Discussion Conference and the broader Dao Discussion Conference, he remained an unknown junior disciple.
Apart from the Tai Xu Men, almost no one knew who he was.
In the vast sea of disciples, he was but a grain of sand, easily overlooked.
In the midst of the throng, the unassuming Mo Hua watched silently, his eyes gleaming with hidden plans, a radiance that went unnoticed by most.
Finally, after a series of captivating matches,
The Tian Jian Zong, one of the four great sects, emerged as the champion of the Sword Discussion Conference.
The Qian Dao Zong took second place.
The Long Ding Zong came in third.
The Wan Xiao Zong secured fourth place.
With that, the current Dao Discussion Conference came to a close.
However, behind the scenes, the higher-ups of the various sects engaged in intricate schemes and calculations, each striving to secure the greatest benefits for their own sect...
...
Inside the Tai Xu Men, in the abode of the sect master.
"Chong Xu Men has moved up to the upper-middle tier," the Grand Master added.
"It's only our Tai Xu Men that hovers at the lower end, neither progressing nor regressing," he sighed.
"But if the other two sects advance and we remain stagnant, it's as good as retreating," the Grand Master of Tai Xu Men said, taking a sip of his tea. Its fragrance lingered, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Old Master Xun raised his eyes, his gaze thoughtful as he regarded the Grand Master. Seeing the Grand Master's calm demeanor, he couldn't help but ask, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate...?"
Old Master Xun replied calmly, "You are the Grand Master."
The Grand Master of Tai Xu Men smiled bitterly. While he held the position of Grand Master, in front of the Old Ancestor, his status as Grand Master seemed insignificant.
Old Master Xun's eyes narrowed slightly as he set down his tea cup and smoothed his sleeves. "What have you heard?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
The Grand Master of Tai Xu Men pondered for a moment before answering, "As you know, my family has considerable influence..."
"No need to be so humble," Old Master Xun interjected with a glance.
The Grand Master of Tai Xu Men smiled faintly and then composed himself, his expression turning solemn. "Through my connections within the family, I received information from the Dao Court. The Shen family of Qian Dao Zong has joined forces with Tian Jian Zong and three other sects to petition the Dao Court for a..."
His eyes turned cold as he continued, "...reformation of the sect system."
Old Master Xun's eyebrows shot up, a hint of surprise in his voice as he asked, "How do they intend to reform it?"
The Grand Master of Tai Xu Men shook his head. "I don't know about that..."
He fiddled with the jade-inlaid celadon cup in his hands and continued, "But no matter how they change it, it doesn't bode well for us."
"Our Tai Xu Men is already in decline. By not passing on the Divine Thought Sword, we are essentially cutting off our own arms, leaving us unable to compete with them. Even if we can maintain our current position, it would be considered a good outcome."
"Once the four great sects, backed by the Dao Court, forcefully push for the reformation of the sect system, our Tai Xu Men will inevitably face upheaval, and there's even a possibility..."
The Grand Master's voice turned colder, "...that we will fall from the ranks of the eight major sects."
Old Master Xun's expression turned grave, and he fell silent in thought.
The Grand Master of Tai Xu Men, adept at reading his expressions, saw nothing but a calm exterior. Realizing that his own cultivation was still shallow and that he couldn't fathom Old Master Xun's thoughts, he sighed and voiced his concerns: "On the surface, this matter involves the four great sects joining forces with other sects to promote the reformation of the sect system for their own gain..."
"But I have a feeling that they are specifically targeting our Tai Xu Men," he added, his brow furrowed.
"But why?" he wondered aloud. "If we speak of grudges, I could name a few. If we speak of reasons, I could guess a few as well. Yet, I always feel that these are not the true causes..."
"There must be something hidden behind this!" he concluded.
Old Master Xun looked at him with a hint of surprise, his eyes filled with depth. Indeed, the cultivator from that family was no simple-minded individual.
Old Master Xun nodded slightly. "I understand..."
The Grand Master of Tai Xu Men waited for Old Master Xun to continue, but his words seemed to have come to an end.
"Then?" The Grand Master looked at Old Master Xun, perplexed.
Old Master Xun took another sip of his tea, his expression unchanged. "I have my plans."
"What kind of plans?" The Grand Master wanted to ask, but seeing Old Master Xun's demeanor, he knew that even if he asked, the old man was unlikely to reveal anything.
The Grand Master's expression turned solemn.
Old Master Xun noticed his grave look and gave a slight nod, acknowledging his concern. Although the Grand Master came from a family background and was not of the Tai Xu Men lineage, he was still in a position of leadership and was concerned about the sect's well-being.
In a rare gesture, Old Master Xun poured a cup of tea for the Grand Master and said in a hoarse voice, "When the storm comes, we shall respond with stillness."
The Grand Master of Tai Xu Men was surprised and flattered to receive a cup of tea from Old Master Xun. However, the questions in his heart only deepened.
What kind of "stillness" could they maintain in the face of such tumultuous changes?
...
The Sword Discussion Conference came to an end, leaving the disciples yearning for more. Although there were subsequent events, they had nothing to do with Mo Hua.
He had seen what he needed to see, and the rest was none of his concern. When it came to matters as significant as the sect's interests, he had no say in them.
Fame and wealth were ultimately fleeting.
The path of cultivation was a long and solitary journey that required one to quiet their heart and seek enlightenment.
Mo Hua returned to the Tai Xu Men sect and continued his relentless pursuit of improvement.
His next goal was to reach the later stage of foundation establishment.
He dedicated the rest of his time to studying array formations, attempting to cross-reference the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams array system taught by Old Master Xun with the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams formations treasured by the Shangguan and Wenren families, broadening his understanding of arrays.
The improvements to the Five Elements Source Armor also continued through successive iterations.
Yu'er became more lively.
With Mo Hua looking after her, she was like a cheerful little swallow within the Tai Xu Men sect, free to fly wherever she pleased.
This was also the happiest time in his life.
Time flew by, and before they knew it, another year had passed.
They celebrated the New Year as usual.
Mo Hua, now in the middle stage of foundation establishment, advanced to the next level.
A new batch of disciples joined the Tai Xu Men sect, becoming Mo Hua's true "junior brothers" and "junior sisters," a year behind him.
Mo Hua had truly become a "senior brother."
(End of Chapter)
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