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Chapter 750: Quick Wits
Chapter 750: Quick Wits
Elder Xun was plotting something significant.
Meanwhile, Mo Hua remained focused on his cultivation and studies, undistracted by other matters.
Soon, it was time for another break.
In the mountains of Lian Yao, Mo Hua sat atop a large tree, a spiritual sword laid out before him as he idly slashed at the eagles and hawks soaring in the sky.
He had no trouble dealing with these second-grade, low-tier eagles and hawks anymore.
Most of the time, it only took a single sword strike to take them down.
However, the monotony of the task eventually bored him.
At the same time, he was patiently waiting for something else.
He was waiting for Ling Hu Xiao to come to him.
With that, he would have a "sword genius" as his "sidekick."
And this sword genius had room to grow; perhaps he would become even more formidable in the future.
Mo Hua sat and waited on the tree, even as the noon hour passed and the sun began its descent in the western sky.
Still, there was no sign of Ling Hu Xiao.
"Isn't he coming?" Mo Hua sighed.
He hadn't caught his fish today…
Well, there was always next time.
Mo Hua prepared to pack up and return, but then he thought again and decided to wait a little longer.
What if this young man was having an internal struggle? These types of reclusive youths often had a lot going on beneath their seemingly cold exteriors.
Mo Hua sat in the tree, took out a flask of fruit wine, and slowly drank while watching the sunset, biding his time.
Sure enough, after another incense stick's worth of time, a young man's figure appeared on the mountain path, shrouded by the dense forest in the distance.
It was indeed Ling Hu Xiao, clad in his light cyan robe.
"He's here!" Mo Hua's spirits lifted, and he stood on the tree, waving enthusiastically from a distance.
"Ling Hu Xiao!"
Ling Hu Xiao was taken aback. He looked up and spotted a small figure on a tree in the dense forest, waving at him.
From his build and demeanor, it was undoubtedly Mo Hua.
Ling Hu Xiao frowned slightly.
From such a distance, how had this little monk named Mo Hua noticed him? They were both Foundation Establishment cultivators, but was his spiritual sense that strong?
Ling Hu Xiao was puzzled but continued walking towards Mo Hua.
When they met, Mo Hua didn't ask why he had come so late or engage in small talk. Instead, he cut straight to the point: "It's getting late. I'll take you to kill a demon beast."
Ling Hu Xiao's expression remained cold as he asked, "What kind of demon beast?"
"You'll see when we get there," Mo Hua replied.
With that, he took the lead and started walking.
Ling Hu Xiao hesitated for a moment, somewhat reluctant, but eventually followed quietly behind Mo Hua.
"Let me tell you how we at Tai Xu Gate hunt demon beasts," Mo Hua said as they walked.
Initially, he had intended to have someone else guide Ling Hu Xiao through the process.
However, considering that Ling Hu Xiao was a sword genius from Chong Xu Gate, Mo Hua decided it would be better to handle this personally, showing greater importance to their guest.
After all, his days were filled with meaningful yet monotonous activities.
This was a perfect opportunity to make a new friend and show him around.
The process of demon beast hunting in Tai Xu Gate had been refined through Mo Hua's research, practiced by his fellow disciples, and optimized based on actual experiences. It was now a stable and mature system.
This time, their target was a Gui Mu wolf.
Mo Hua located its tracks, set traps, and deployed array formations before pulling Ling Hu Xiao to crouch behind a large rock.
When the Gui Mu wolf triggered the array, it exploded with deadly force.
Fire blazed, and smoke billowed.
The Gui Mu wolf was severely injured by the blast.
"Cut it down!" Mo Hua commanded.
Ling Hu Xiao drew his sword, and a dazzling, sharp, and lustrous sword light, as radiant as moonlight, slashed through the air, landing directly on the wounded Gui Mu wolf.
The demon beast perished instantly.
The hunt was over.
Ling Hu Xiao was stunned.
From start to finish, the entire process had taken less than an hour.
Most of the time had been spent locating the demon beast, tracking it, setting traps, and deploying the array.
The actual combat had been swift—from the activation of the array to Ling Hu Xiao's sword strike, and finally, the demon beast's demise—lasting no more than the time it took for an incense stick to burn.
Just like that, a second-grade, low-tier demon beast had been slain with ease.
It was so simple that Ling Hu Xiao felt like even a "fool" could accomplish it by following the steps…
Was this how Tai Xu Gate always hunted demon beasts? Could any demon beast withstand such an assault?
Ling Hu Xiao felt like his understanding of the world had been turned upside down.
Mo Hua looked up at the sky and said, "We still have some time. We can take down one more, and then we can head back."
And so, he repeated the process.
With the well-established and meticulous demon-hunting strategy and Ling Hu Xiao's formidable sword prowess, another demon beast fell without incident.
The two of them skinned the beasts, and at the mountain gate, they sold the materials.
"For two demon beasts, after deducting the cost of the arrays, the remaining points will be evenly split. Each of us gets eight hundred merit points," Mo Hua said, transferring eight hundred merit points to Ling Hu Xiao.
Ling Hu Xiao was dumbfounded.
So…
In just half a day, by strolling through the mountains, swinging his sword a couple of times, he had earned eight hundred merit points? This made him feel like the fool, spending days, sometimes even weeks, alone in the deep mountains, fully alert and pushing his sword heart to its limits to battle demon beasts and contend with Duan Jin Gate, just to earn a little over a thousand merit points.
On the way back, Ling Hu Xiao remained deep in thought. Finally, he said flatly, "I don't like this way of hunting demon beasts. I won't participate next time."
"Moreover, ambushing and relying on array formations beforehand is somewhat unsportsmanlike."
"It goes against my swordsmanship and will rob me of the courage to face formidable foes..."
Mo Hua paused, then sighed and said helplessly:
"One day, you're going to die because of your stupidity."
Ling Hu's smile stiffened, and she replied with a hint of anger, "You're the stupid one! What do you know? You don't cultivate swordsmanship, nor do you have the innate talent of a clear sword heart. How could you understand the pursuit of swordsmanship?"
"What is a clear sword heart?" Mo Hua asked curiously.
Ling Hu's smile turned cold as she looked up, "I could tell you, but you wouldn't understand."
"Oh." Mo Hua glanced at Ling Hu and after a moment's thought, asked, "Do you plan to stay in the sect for your entire life?"
Ling Hu didn't understand why Mo Hua was asking this, but she shook her head, "How is that possible..."
Mo Hua's voice turned solemn, "Then do you know how cultivators outside the sect kill? Do you know the methods used by those guilty cultivators, evil cultivators, and demonic cultivators for their nefarious purposes, such as harvesting supplements, absorbing spirits, sucking blood, and cultivating evil arts?"
Ling Hu fell silent at Mo Hua's question.
Although she had taken on a few bounties, her outings were infrequent, and she had encountered only a handful of truly heinous and evil cultivators.
Mo Hua scoffed, "Those demonic cultivators will use whatever means necessary to kill you. They won't care if their methods are despicable or shameless."
"If they kill you and dismember your body, using your blood to draw array formations and feeding your flesh to demons... Your 'sword heart' would be dug out and used as a catalyst to refine evil pills..."
"...and even your soul would be devoured."
"At that moment, would you lecture them about fairness or accuse them of being unsportsmanlike?"
"Who would listen to you then?"
Mo Hua's words were cold and starkly realistic.
Ling Hu's face paled.
After a moment, she looked at Mo Hua, who was younger than her but had a pure and innocent appearance, his eyes revealing a depth of experience. She furrowed her brows and asked,
"How do you know about these things?"
Demonic cultivators dismembering bodies, using blood to draw array formations, feeding flesh to demons, refining pills with heart meridians, and consuming souls...
How could Mo Hua, a junior cultivator from a reputable sect, know about such gruesome details so clearly?
"Of course, I saw it with my own eyes..." Mo Hua thought to herself.
However, it wasn't something she could openly discuss.
If word got out, it would ruin her image as a naive and innocent disciple among her peers.
"I learned about these things from my 'Uncle Gu,' who works in the Dao Court and has been capturing guilty cultivators and dealing with evil demons for years," Mo Hua explained, using the name "Uncle Gu" to impress Ling Hu.
Ling Hu, seeing how seriously Mo Hua was speaking, with such vivid details, naturally believed her.
"Therefore," Mo Hua continued with a solemn expression, "People often say that the path of cultivation is treacherous, but we disciples within the sect don't truly realize what 'treacherous' truly means."
"These genuine treacheries can be even more despicable, vile, vicious, and cunning... leaving one completely defenseless."
"If you hold on to such childish notions of 'unsportsmanlike' behavior, you will undoubtedly suffer greatly once you step into the cultivation world."
"It's possible that your spirit sword will be broken, your sword heart polluted, your foundation in swordsmanship destroyed, and your life snuffed out..."
"Destroyed foundation in swordsmanship..."
Whenever it came to swordsmanship, Ling Hu's expression always turned grave.
Mo Hua continued, "Thus, if you wish to live a long life, seek the path to longevity, and ascend to the true pinnacle of swordsmanship, you must discard your misguided convictions."
"You must be ruthless in your pursuit of improving your swordsmanship, even if it means relying on external objects."
"Survive, grow stronger, and only then can you reach the end of the path of swordsmanship!"
Although Mo Hua knew nothing about swordsmanship, she improvised based on her understanding of array formations.
However, the ultimate truth of the world often converged, so her words were likely not far from the truth.
As expected, Ling Hu's expression changed, and she fell deep in thought.
Seeing that Ling Hu was wavering, Mo Hua gently persuaded,
"For now, just focus on killing these low-level demons to earn some merit and improve your strength."
"When we have time later, we can find a team and go after second-grade mid-tier or even high-tier demons together."
"By facing these powerful demons and teetering on the edge of life and death, you'll truly temper your sword heart and hone your swordsmanship."
Ling Hu's eyes lit up at Mo Hua's suggestion.
"Hunt mid to high-tier second-grade demons?!"
Ling Hu's eyes sparkled with excitement, and a strong battle intent surged within her. She immediately nodded in agreement, "Alright! I'll join you in hunting these demons!"
Mo Hua sighed inwardly.
Sword cultivators were so easy to deceive.
The mere mention of hunting mid to high-tier demons had her all fired up.
However, second-grade mid-tier demons were a notch stronger than the lower-tier ones, with thicker demonic blood and energy, making them more troublesome to deal with.
As for high-tier demons, they were not only troublesome but also highly dangerous.
But when "dangling a carrot," one had to make the carrot slightly bigger.
Moreover, with Cheng Mo and the others continuing to improve their cultivation, they would eventually need to try hunting stronger demons.
So, it wasn't exactly an empty promise.
As for when they would go hunting, that would depend on the situation.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, did not have as many ulterior motives as Ling Hu Xiao. He felt that what Mo Hua said made sense.
By hunting and killing low-level demon beasts efficiently and earning merit quickly, he could enhance his swordsmanship.
Then, he could challenge even more ferocious and powerful demon beasts to temper his sword heart and perfect his sword techniques! He had misunderstood Mo Hua before.
Mo Hua was not someone without a desire to win, but rather, he was taking a steady and strategic approach, seeking a more long-term path.
Ling Hu Xiao nodded slightly.
And so, Ling Hu Xiao was now considered part of their group.
The next day, Mo Hua asked Hao Xuan to take Ling Hu Xiao out to hunt demons.
Hao Xuan was in charge of scouting and setting up array formations, while Ling Hu Xiao was responsible for the killing.
By evening, the two returned, and Hao Xuan exclaimed in shock, "What powerful sword qi! With a swoosh, the demon beast was dead."
"In just one day, we killed five demon beasts."
"Brother Ling Hu is truly formidable!"
Ling Hu Xiao's expression remained indifferent, but he couldn't help but feel pleased as Hao Xuan praised him.
After all, he was just a teenager under twenty years old, and it felt good to be complimented, even if he didn't show it.
Back at Chong Xu Gate, none of the disciples ever praised him.
Everyone knew that he was a once-in-five-hundred-years sword genius.
Given his exceptional talent, his superb sword techniques were expected, and others felt that it was only natural.
Instead, this often led to him being isolated.
However, at Tai Xu Gate, things were quite different.
Here, the disciples worked together in teams to hunt demon beasts, and his powerful sword qi meant that they could kill demon beasts faster and earn more merit.
Moreover, this merit was shared among the team.
Thus, Ling Hu Xiao unknowingly became the "pillar" of their demon-hunting endeavors.
The admiration he received from Tai Xu Gate's disciples was sincere.
Ling Hu Xiao felt much more relaxed being with Tai Xu Gate's disciples, free from the constant scheming he had experienced before.
In addition, there was also a dedicated swordsmith, Ouyang Mu, who maintained and repaired his spirit sword.
The spirit sword was a precious artifact, and its maintenance and repair required a great deal of skill and knowledge.
Among the Three Gates, Tai Ah Gate excelled in swordsmithing.
Ouyang Mu, as a descendant of Tai Ah Gate, was skilled in this art, and so any Tai Xu Gate disciple with issues pertaining to their sword weapons or spiritual artifacts would pay merit points to have Ouyang Mu assist them.
Ling Hu Xiao was no exception.
Through their frequent interactions, the two became quite familiar with each other.
Ouyang Mu was dedicated to his craft, and Ling Hu Xiao was devoted to his sword cultivation; their similar personalities, though quiet and solitary, made it easy for them to get along.
Over a month passed, and Ling Hu Xiao gradually became integrated into the fold of Tai Xu Gate's disciples.
Whenever he ventured into the mountains now, he would head straight for Tai Xu Peak.
There, he would always find enthusiastic Tai Xu disciples inviting him to join their demon-hunting teams.
They would scout for demon beasts and set up array formations, while he would be responsible for the killing blow.
After slaying the demon beasts and earning merit, they would distribute the rewards fairly and descend the mountain, each satisfied with their share.
The process was smooth and effortless.
Sometimes, Ling Hu Xiao would even feel a sense of surrealness.
He would have the illusion that he was actually a disciple of Tai Xu Gate rather than Chong Xu Gate...
The interactions between Ling Hu Xiao and the Tai Xu disciples did not go unnoticed by the watching Chong Xu elders, who reported back to the Chong Xu Ancestor.
The Chong Xu Ancestor, stroking his beard, pondered for a moment before speaking, "It's all good. This is a positive development."
The elder, confused, asked, "How is this a good thing...?"
The Chong Xu Ancestor explained, "My Chong Xu Gate is stronger than Tai Xu Gate, and Xiao'er's abilities surpass those of Tai Xu's disciples."
"With him among them, it's like a lion mixing with a pack of wolves, leading them from the front."
"Given Xiao'er's innate talent for swordsmanship, his future potential is limitless."
"However, cultivators are still human, and success depends on having allies."
"By befriending the disciples of Tai Xu Gate, he is establishing connections and building his influence, which will benefit him in the future."
"Moreover, should Tai Xu Gate ever decline, they will have to rely on the favor he has shown them."
Hearing this, the Chong Xu elder nodded in agreement: "As always, Ancestor's plans are meticulous."
"However," the Chong Xu elder continued, a hint of worry in his voice, "he seems to be particularly close to that disciple of Tai Xu, Mo Hua."
"That Mo Hua is cunning and crafty, with a silver tongue."
"What he says seems to influence Xiao'er, despite his indifferent exterior. He seems to believe Mo Hua's words and follows his suggestions...""
The Chong Xu elder sighed, feeling a sense of powerlessness.
The Chong Xu Ancestor frowned, "What is the background of this child?"
"I made some inquiries... It seems he is quite favored by Tai Xu's Ancestor Xun. His talent may not be exceptional, but his understanding of array formations is impressive..." The Chong Xu elder replied.
"His understanding of array formations is impressive?"
The Chong Xu Ancestor pondered for a moment before nodding, "That's fine..."
"Having a good understanding of array formations can assist Xiao'er."
"Xiao'er has a solitary nature, but his innate talent for a clear sword heart is there for all to see. He isn't foolish and won't be manipulated easily."
"Moreover, array formations are ultimately a support tool, while swordsmanship is the true source of power."
"Thus, Xiao'er will always be the one in control."
"And this batch of Tai Xu disciples will serve as his able assistants!"
The Chong Xu elder praised, "Ancestor's wisdom knows no bounds!"
However, despite his words, a slight concern lingered in his heart.
But even if he had, he wouldn't have been able to explain it clearly.
How could quick wits amount to anything?
Moreover, the Old Ancestor was busy with many affairs.
With the imminent restructuring of the sect, the various major sects were stirring with undercurrents, and there were many worries, it wasn't worth spending too much time on a minor disciple of Tai Xu Gate.
Thus, the Chong Xu Gate Elder didn't say anything further and, after bowing, took his leave.
The Chong Xu Old Ancestor's thoughts were elsewhere, and he didn't think much more about it.
...
Within Tai Xu Gate, Mo Hua was feeling a little perplexed.
As for Ling Hu Xiao, he had already made the necessary arrangements.
However, his own strength had hit a plateau.
With the fourth year coming to an end, his cultivation, spiritual sense, sword control, and array techniques had all stagnated.
Cultivation required perseverance like a dripping stone that wears away the rock, and his mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation wouldn't break through in a short period of time.
His spiritual sense was stuck at seventeen strands.
Eighteen strands were within reach, but due to the restrictions of the heavenly dao's laws, there was a barrier in front of him that he couldn't break through.
His sword control was extremely powerful, but it had gradually reached its limit.
He would have to wait until he learned new sword arrays or Little Wood learned new sword-forging techniques before he could continue to improve.
As for array techniques, he practiced them every day.
In particular, the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Array had become boring to him, and there wasn't anything new to learn for the time being.
Aside from the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Array, it had also been a long time since he had learned any new arrays.
There was nothing he could do about his cultivation; he would just have to keep grinding away at it.
Perhaps his spiritual sense also needed a bit of a spark.
All he could do for now was to find some new arrays to learn.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and decided to go ask Elder Xun.
"A new array technique?" Elder Xun paused.
"Yes." Mo Hua nodded. "Elder, aside from the Five Elements Eight Trigrams Array, are there any other arrays I can learn?"
"There's also the Primordial Magnetic Array..." Mo Hua added weakly.
The few Primordial Magnetic Arrays with seventeen strands that he had were already worn out from overuse.
Elder Xun sighed.
Learning too quickly wasn't necessarily a good thing, and now all the pressure was on him, the old teacher.
However, there were some arrays that were too advanced for Mo Hua to learn at this point.
And some other arrays, though they fell under the category of orthodox array techniques, were ambiguous in nature and could easily lead one astray.
"I'll consider it..." Elder Xun said.
"Okay." Mo Hua replied obediently.
He was about to get up and leave when Elder Xun called out to him.
"Mo Hua."
Elder Xun frowned slightly, deep in thought, before asking, "Can your spiritual sense be further enhanced?"
Elder Xun's question was very cautious.
Having just entered the mid-Foundation Establishment, Mo Hua already possessed seventeen strands of spiritual sense, which far surpassed his peers.
But Elder Xun felt that Mo Hua should be capable of more.
As the disciple of that man, all sorts of outrageous things were possible...
Mo Hua scratched his head. "It's hard to say. Maybe I need some kind of opportunity..."
For example, having someone deliver meals to him.
Or perhaps finding another sacrificial altar.
This really depended on "opportunities."
But Mo Hua couldn't explicitly say such things.
Elder Xun's eyes turned slightly somber, as if he had thought of something, and he nodded slightly. "I understand."
After that, Elder Xun didn't say anything further.
Mo Hua didn't want to disturb him either, as he noticed that Elder Xun seemed to be constantly worried lately, as if he was pondering some important matter.
But these matters were at the sect level, and Mo Hua couldn't get involved. He estimated that he wouldn't be able to help the Elder with anything.
As long as he didn't cause any trouble for the Elder, that was good enough.
Mo Hua bowed and then got up to leave.
But just as he reached the door, he turned around and came face to face with a man wearing the inner sect robe of Tai Xu Gate. The man had a handsome appearance, a straight bearing, and a relaxed demeanor.
He seemed to be one of the inner sect elders.
This elder was clearly startled to see Mo Hua, and his expression betrayed a hint of guilt, as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
But it was only for a moment, and his expression quickly returned to normal.
If not for Mo Hua's sharp spiritual sense, he wouldn't have noticed anything amiss.
Moreover, the aura of this elder was strangely familiar...
Mo Hua was puzzled but still respectfully performed the disciple's salute, saying, "Greetings, Elder."
The elder looked at Mo Hua with a calm gaze, as if he had never seen him before, merely acknowledging Mo Hua as an ordinary disciple with a slight nod. "Hm."
Then, he walked past Mo Hua and entered Elder Xun's residence.
Mo Hua watched his back, feeling perplexed, and called out to a nearby young disciple, asking, "Who was that elder just now?"
The young disciple was well-informed, as he was in charge of receiving guests every day.
And he got along well with Mo Hua, so he answered truthfully, "That was Elder Xun Ziyou, Elder Xun's junior, who is currently an inner sect elder in charge of overseeing the Demon Beast Mountain. He occasionally comes to visit Elder Xun..."
Mo Hua was taken aback, thinking of that unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar figure, and his expression became thoughtful.
After a moment, Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he nodded meaningfully, "Oh... Elder Xun..."
(End of Chapter)
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