Chapter 744: Little Mu Hua (An extra chapter for the Alliance Leader's Crazy Night)
Chapter 744: Little Mu Hua (An extra chapter for the Alliance Leader's Crazy Night)
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two groups parted ways.
Mo Hua bade farewell to Ouyang Feng and wandered around the mountain for a while longer, choosing a peregrine falcon as his next target. He sacrificed a flying sword to slay the bird and then skinned it for its materials.
As evening approached, Mo Hua descended the mountain and exchanged the materials he had gathered for contribution points at the mountain gate.
With his solo sword flight, he had slain two avian demon beasts, earning him nearly 1,800 contribution points—a satisfying haul.
However, as he turned to leave, Mo Hua glanced back at Refining Demon Mountain and noticed not only a bustling crowd at the mountain gate but also an increased number of disciples hunting for demon beasts within the mountain itself.
"It's getting livelier..." Mo Hua mused with a slight smile.
Shortly after Mo Hua's departure, another figure appeared at the mountain gate.
A disciple guarding the gate immediately bowed and addressed the newcomer, "Elder Xun."
"Mm," Xun Ziyou acknowledged with a nod.
Another Elder from the Taihe Gate, who was familiar and on good terms with Xun Ziyou, found his frequent visits to the mountain peculiar and inquired, "Ziyou, why have you been spending so much time in the mountains lately? That doesn't seem like something you would normally do..."
He knew that Xun Ziyou was usually quite indolent.
Typically, he would be content to guard the mountain gate, sipping tea, chatting, and enjoying the breeze. It was unusual for him to be so active unless there was an important matter at hand.
But lately, he seemed to have changed his ways, spending most of his time in the mountains.
Xun Ziyou sighed deeply, feeling helpless.
There was no helping it; "Little Ancestor" had ventured into the mountains, and he had no choice but to follow.
His young legs could handle the running, but if anything happened to that "Little Ancestor," he would be in deep trouble.
With a sense of resignation, Xun Ziyou sat down and poured himself a cup of hot tea, silently calming his nerves.
For some reason, every time Mo Hua ventured into the mountains, he felt a sense of apprehension.
That sword technique, in particular, made his heart tremble.
He couldn't fathom how this "Little Ancestor," who didn't cultivate the sword path and wasn't a sword cultivator, could devise such a technique. It seemed like a "half-baked" or "pseudo-sword art," yet it was inexplicably effective and astonishingly powerful.
Was it because this child dared to think outside the box?
Or had he, Xun Ziyou, become too old and set in his ways?
Especially with this sword technique, its speed was extraordinary, covering vast distances with minimal spiritual energy consumption and without relying on sword qi proficiency.
It was truly outrageous.
At the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, to fly a sword nearly 600 feet without any decrease in speed or accuracy—what concept was that?!
Xun Ziyou's eyelids twitched.
Fortunately, the Little Ancestor's spirit sword was lacking, and he hadn't yet grasped the intricacies of sword arrays.
Otherwise, at the Foundation Establishment stage, he would have been a force to be reckoned with.
If this sword technique were perfected, one could take a life in the blink of an eye, faster than the time it takes for someone to even see his figure.
Xun Ziyou was both amazed and apprehensive.
The Grand Elder truly had a discerning eye, foreseeing the potential of Mo Hua despite his mediocre spiritual root and wastefully talented background. Experience truly breeds wisdom...
Xun Ziyou shook his head and sat down to sip his tea.
"There are too many disciples from the Taihe Gate in the mountains; I need to keep an eye on them," he said, offering a casual excuse.
The Taihe Gate Elder didn't doubt him and simply nodded, "That's true..."
Indeed, the peaks of Refining Demon Mountain that belonged to other sects were now occupied by disciples from the Taihe Gate.
"Speaking of which," the Taihe Gate Elder said with a puzzled expression, "your batch of disciples is rather peculiar. They seem to have a completely different style from the previous batches..."
Xun Ziyou held his teacup, unable to finish his sip as he thought to himself, "It's all because of Mo Hua! He's changed the entire dynamic of this batch of disciples."
The Taihe Gate disciples used to be so different...
Although the overall atmosphere in the sect remained peaceful, there were always one or two family geniuses who looked down on everyone else and refused to acknowledge their peers.
Even within Refining Demon Mountain, they would compete and compare, each striving to outdo the other.
But now, they were as obedient as could be, wearing the same armor, carrying the same spiritual artifacts, and following the same "guide." They entered the mountain together in a united front to hunt demon beasts.
Even their daily cultivation and tasks were influenced by that "Little Senior Brother," who took the lead and made decisions, fostering a harmonious and cohesive environment.
On the other hand, the other sects hadn't changed much.
Their disciples still aspired to stand out, to challenge the proud children of heaven, and to carve out their own path to success.
Xun Ziyou paused, recalling Mo Hua's calm and amicable demeanor, and suddenly, a phrase popped into his mind:
"Water is good at benefiting the myriad things without striving. Because it does not compete, it is without fault..."
As sharp as a sword, yet gentle as water.
Xun Ziyou pondered these words silently, astonished by the profound truth they held.
The Taihe Gate Elder noticed Xun Ziyou's prolonged silence and gave him a curious look.
Sensing his gaze, Xun Ziyou replied vaguely, "I'm not sure about that..."
"But, come to think of it, it's a good thing. Array formations and spiritual artifacts are meant to be used, and being able to make full use of them is a skill in itself."
The Taihe Gate Elder pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement, "What you say makes sense."
Xun Ziyou suddenly remembered something and said to the Taihe Gate Elder, "Some of your Taihe Gate disciples seem to have been getting close to the Duan Jin Gate recently..."
The Elder turned his head slightly, a serious expression on his face.
Xun Ziyou immediately understood.
The two men rose and entered a private chamber within, activating a soundproofing array.
The Elder looked around and lowered his voice. "Ziyou, we've known each other for many years, and I won't hide anything from you. But these words are only for your ears here; they must not be repeated outside this room."
Xun Ziyou nodded, his gaze turning solemn.
The Elder continued in a low voice, "I, the Taihe Gate, wish to take a step further!"
Xun Ziyou's eyes narrowed, and he gave a slight nod. "You want to join the Four Great Sects?"
The Elder of the Taihe Gate looked at him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Impossible," Xun Ziyou frowned. "The Four Great Sects and the Eight Great Gates are set in stone. They won't be easily altered because of a single argument or two."
The Elder smiled faintly. "There are talks of a reformation."
Xun Ziyou's eyes narrowed further.
He had heard whispers of this news before, but he hadn't paid it much mind.
A reformation of the sects was a major undertaking, and if it were to be implemented, there would be countless obstacles.
Over the past few centuries, there had been similar suggestions, but they had all amounted to little more than loud noises and small actions, eventually fizzling out.
"Is it true?" Xun Ziyou asked.
"Nothing is certain until the dust settles, but the chances are said to be high," the Elder replied.
He continued, "If the reformation truly happens and the original structure of the Four Great Sects and the Eight Great Gates is broken, then our Taihe Gate will have a chance to rise!"
"This opportunity is rare!"
"As you said, the Four Great Sects and the Eight Great Gates are set in stone. They won't change due to temporary fluctuations in sect strength."
"Even if our Taihe Gate is truly stronger than the Four Great Sects, we won't be able to take their place easily."
"But with a reformation, anything is possible!"
Xun Ziyou thought for a moment before speaking in a solemn tone, "So, you plan to collude with the Duan Jin Gate?"
"It's not 'collusion,'" the Elder said, a bit exasperated. "That word makes it sound so unpleasant... We're talking about mutual support and helping each other."
"I, the Taihe Gate, wish to take a step forward, moving from the Eight Great Gates to the Four Great Sects."
"As for the Duan Jin Gate, they naturally also aspire to improve their standing, moving from the Twelve Flows to the Eight Great Gates."
"While officially, there is no distinction between the Eight Great Gates and the Twelve Flows, in terms of sect structure and external reputation, there is a significant difference."
Xun Ziyou's expression turned gloomy as he spoke with a helpless tone, "If someone improves their standing, it means someone else will have to take a step back..."
"If the Duan Jin Gate takes a step forward and enters the Eight Great Gates, then my Taihe Gate might very well take that step back and fall into the Twelve Flows..."
The Elder of the Taihe Gate sighed. "It's up to you now, the Taihe Gate. When it comes to sect interests, you can only rely on yourselves."
"Let me be blunt," he continued. "If your Taihe Gate truly becomes powerful, you might even have a chance to enter the Four Great Sects during this opportunity. But if you can't keep up and fall from the Eight Great Gates, who can you blame?"
Xun Ziyou sighed softly. It wasn't easy to perform well during the Qianzhou Argument and the Heaven's Pride Competition.
The Elder of the Taihe Gate glanced at Xun Ziyou and took a sip of his tea before speaking slowly, "Our Taihe Gate's Sect Master has already discussed this matter with the Great Elder of the Duan Jin Gate. I'm not sure about the specifics, but it's likely about the sect reformation and mutual assistance."
"The Duan Jin Gate has extensive connections."
"Some things are beyond the reach of our Taihe, Chongxu, and Taihe Sects, which share the same lineage."
"When the sects intend to develop friendly relations, it is natural for the disciples to interact more frequently."
He heaved another sigh. "After all these years of friendship, I'm telling you this as a reminder. It would be best if the Taihe Gate paid attention to this matter as well."
"The Argument Array Formation is what truly matters."
"Our three sects share the same lineage, and our ancestors are connected. I don't wish to see the Taihe Gate ascending to the Four Great Sects and the Chongxu Gate improving its standing, while your Taihe Gate falls from the Eight Great Gates..."
The Elder of the Taihe Gate looked at Xun Ziyou with a complex expression.
Xun Ziyou's face turned grim, and after a moment, he sighed deeply. "I understand..."
...
News of the potential reformation stirred up undercurrents among the higher-ups of various sects.
However, Mo Hua remained oblivious to all of this, and none of the elders mentioned it to him, their young disciple.
He continued his quiet cultivation and attended his daily classes.
At the same time, he tirelessly worked on his array formations day and night, hoping to break through to the next level and increase his divine sense to eighteen strands, allowing him to learn more advanced formations.
But the Heavenly Dao Law's restriction was still in place, hindering his progress.
In his free time, Mo Hua studied the "Heavenly Dao Law" within his sea of consciousness, hoping to unravel its mysteries.
Unfortunately, despite his prolonged contemplation, he made no headway.
After all, the concept of "Law" was far beyond the reach of a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage like him.
Mo Hua realized that he had been a bit arrogant before.
He could only settle for the second-best option—not seeking to understand the Law's secrets but hoping that it would be satisfied and leave on its own, no longer hindering his progress in divine sense cultivation.
As Mo Hua continued to temper his divine sense, the Law gradually loosened its grip.
However, it was unclear when it would be truly satisfied and lift its restrictions...
...
During the week-long break, Mo Hua maintained his routine of practicing his swordplay and hunting eagles to earn contribution points.
By noon, he felt a bit weary, so he drank some fruit wine and ate some spirit meat before climbing up a large tree to rest his eyes.
However, he didn't get to rest for long before he sensed some movement.
Mo Hua opened his eyes and looked down through the dense foliage to see a group of five people battling a demon beast.
The five were dressed in the Daoist robes of Taihe Gate.
Mo Hua didn't recognize the other four, but one of them was a "familiar face," the younger brother named Ouyang Mu, whom Ouyang Feng had asked him to look after.
Unlike his elder brother, who had a sword-like brow and star-like eyes, with a tall and robust build, this younger brother looked skinny, his skin tanned, and he truly resembled a "little wooden man."
The demon beast they faced was a second-grade initial-stage beast.
Its skin was reddish, adorned with flames, long fangs, and black sharp claws. Its eyes were brownish-yellow with a fiery red hue, and its movements left fiery traces. It was a fire-type demon beast called a "Fire Demon Wolf."
The Fire Demon Wolf's strength was neither weak nor overwhelming. Among the second-grade initial-stage demon beasts, it was considered average.
In Mo Hua's eyes, it wasn't much of a challenge.
However, these newcomers from Taihe Gate were struggling to deal with it.
There were five of them, including the "little wooden man," Ouyang Mu, each holding a reddish-yellow spirit sword and engaging in close combat with the Fire Demon Wolf.
Taihe Gate excelled in sword-forging techniques, and their spirit swords were of exceptional quality.
To complement their sword-forging skills, they cultivated sword techniques similar to those of physical cultivators.
With robust physical bodies, sharp spirit swords, the vigor of physical cultivators, and the sword qi of sword techniques, they were formidable in actual combat.
While they might not have the same prowess as spiritual cultivators or sword cultivators who could unleash powerful spells or sword techniques with their stored energy, their sword techniques resembled martial arts, making their attacks swift, flexible, and agile.
In close combat, they had a significant advantage and were not to be underestimated.
The sword technique cultivated by Ouyang Feng, the elder brother, belonged to this category.
During their previous bounty hunt, they had relied entirely on Ouyang Feng's ability to both attack and defend, single-handedly holding off the enemy while the rest of the team cast their spells.
Now, without Ouyang Feng, these younger disciples of Taihe Gate were clearly struggling.
Not only were their cultivation levels, sword techniques, and battle experience lacking, but the quality of their spirit swords also fell short.
Especially "little wooden man," who was clumsy and seemed to have no idea what he was doing.
When he shouldn't have attacked, he lunged forward with his sword, exposing his own weakness and giving the demon beast an opportunity to strike.
And when he should have joined the assault, he hesitated and failed to seize the moment.
The other Taihe Gate disciples performed slightly better.
But even they were just "passable."
They relied mostly on their cultivation foundation and youthful vigor, daring to fight without much strategy or finesse.
Their sense of timing and maneuverability were crude compared to Situ and the others.
They even fell short of Hao Xuanji's cunning.
With their level of skill, it was impossible for them to defeat the Fire Demon Wolf.
Sure enough, after a while, the Fire Demon Wolf feigned a flaw in its defense, luring two of the Taihe Gate disciples to attack.
Then, it unleashed its demonic power, its body surging with flames. Taking advantage of the two disciples' eagerness to prove themselves, it pounced forward without giving them a chance to react or change their moves. It transformed into a streak of fire and disappeared into the distance.
The Taihe Gate disciples understood the principle of not pursuing a desperate enemy, especially in Refining Demon Mountain.
Moreover, their spiritual energy was nearly depleted.
The five sat on the spot to meditate and restore their energy, all the while complaining:
"That beast got away again!"
"It's happened so many times. We just can't seem to corner it."
One of them blamed Ouyang Mu, "Woody, it's always because of your mistakes. If it weren't for your errors, we would have taken down that wolf demon by now."
Another chimed in, "We've told you so many times, but do you even remember what we said?"
"If you don't improve, how can we bring you with us into the mountain next time?"
Ouyang Mu hung his head low, feeling ashamed and not daring to speak.
One of the disciples glared at him angrily, "Say something!"
"If it weren't for your brother..."
"Alright, that's enough!" One of the older disciples interrupted, "There's no point in arguing about this now."
The disciple swallowed his words, but his anger was evident.
"At this rate, we won't be able to catch any demon beasts or earn any contribution points. We're just wasting our time..."
Although he didn't say it explicitly, everyone knew whom he was referring to.
An awkward silence fell upon the group.
Mo Hua shook his head slightly.
While it was true that Ouyang Mu lacked experience, his sword technique was crude, and he had made several mistakes that hindered their progress, the root of the problem lay with the team itself. Their overall strength was lacking, and they had no proper strategy for hunting demon beasts. Even without Ouyang Mu, replacing him with someone of similar caliber wouldn't change the outcome.
It was reasonable for Ouyang Mu to bear some blame for their failed hunt, but it was unfair to place all the responsibility on him.
People often tended to shift the blame onto others to avoid acknowledging their own shortcomings.
However, this was an internal matter of Taihe Gate, and Mo Hua saw no need to intervene.
After searching the mountain for a while longer without any sign of the Fire Demon Wolf, the Taihe Gate disciples had no choice but to head back as the day was coming to an end.
Mo Hua watched them leave without interfering.
The next day, Mo Hua once again ventured into the mountain to practice his sword flying.
Around noon, as he rested on a large tree, he spotted Ouyang Mu once more, just as expected.
Ouyang Mu was still in a group of five, but his teammates had changed.
The four who had accompanied him the day before were no longer by his side.
Mo Hua wondered if Ouyang Mu had felt too embarrassed to burden his teammates further, so he had chosen to switch groups.
Or perhaps the other four, frustrated with Ouyang Mu's incompetence, had decided to exclude him from their team.
Mo Hua sighed softly.
Their target seemed to be the Fire Demon Wolf again.
However, it was extremely challenging for a team of novices like them to hunt down a second-grade initial-stage demon beast.
Unsurprisingly, they failed again.
Although all five of them were lacking in skill, the brunt of the blame inevitably fell on the one who was the "most" lacking.
Ouyang Mu endured another round of accusations.
But with his reserved nature and limited eloquence, he could only lower his head in silence.
The other four argued amongst themselves, and even before they started their descent, the team had fallen apart.
Mo Hua realized that Ouyang Mu, despite being the weakest among the five, was the one who desired most to hunt demon beasts.
The other four, instead of working together to hunt, seemed more interested in showing off and seeking attention, with little to no collaboration.
Now, as the other four left, Ouyang Mu was the only one left behind.
He gripped his sword tightly, his expression determined, but as he looked around, his face twisted with anguish.
He seemed torn between continuing the hunt and acknowledging his lack of strength to face the demon beasts alone.
Ouyang Mu stood there, hesitating, his eyes clouded with confusion, unsure of what to do...
Mo Hua sighed and called out from a high branch of the tree:
"Little Wooden Man!"
Startled, Ouyang Mu looked up and saw a young cultivator, not much older than himself, with red lips and white teeth, standing on a large tree branch with his feet perpendicular to the ground.
Ouyang Mu was taken aback for a moment before recognizing him.
This was the disciple from Taihe Gate whom he had seen in Refining Demon Mountain, who could chat casually with his elder brother despite their apparent age difference. His name was...
"Mo Hua."
"Brother Mo, good day!" Ouyang Mu greeted politely, though somewhat awkwardly.
Mo Hua looked at him curiously and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I..." Ouyang Mu stammered, "I'm hunting demon beasts..."
He said this with some embarrassment, as his demon-hunting skills were abysmal.
In the past two days, he hadn't managed to kill a single demon beast.
Mo Hua inquired further, "Your teammates have left, but you're not going back?"
Ouyang Mu paused, realizing that Mo Hua had witnessed their unsuccessful hunt.
His expression fell, but he shook his head resolutely and said, "I'm not going back. I want to kill the Fire Demon Wolf."
"Why?" Mo Hua didn't quite understand.
Ouyang Mu lowered his voice and replied, "I want its spine..."
"What do you need the spine for?"
"To forge a sword..."
Mo Hua was taken aback, and his eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement as he exclaimed,
"You know how to forge swords?!"
He had heard that Taihe, Chongxu, and Taihe Sects shared a common origin, and Taihe Gate was renowned for its exceptional sword-forging techniques.
Ouyang Mu's heart raced as he felt the weight of Mo Hua's gaze, and he nodded silently.
Mo Hua's smile widened as he asked, "What was it that you wanted again?"
Ouyang Mu hesitated for a moment before softly repeating, "The... spine of the Fire Demon Wolf."
Mo Hua nodded and whistled.
Soon after, a Taihe Gate disciple rushed over and greeted Mo Hua, "Junior Brother Mo!"
Mo Hua instructed, "Kill a Fire Demon Wolf and bring me its spine."
"Yes!" The disciple rushed off.
After a while, there was a commotion in the distant forest, followed by the sounds of array explosions, cultivators shouting, and demon beasts roaring.
Eventually, everything fell silent, and the disciple returned, presenting Mo Hua with a bloody, fiery red spine.
Ouyang Mu stared at the spine, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
The spine of a Fire Demon Wolf!
He had tried every means possible, begged countless people, and endured countless hardships just to form a team. Yet, despite all his efforts and the dissolution of his team, he had failed to obtain the spine.
And now, in the blink of an eye, a fresh spine, still dripping with blood and fire, was presented to him? Ouyang Mu was incredulous.
He slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with astonishment as he looked at Mo Hua, wondering who this Brother Mo truly was...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
