https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-793-The-Grand-Diagram-of-the-Cosmos/12543641/
Chapter 792: The Situation
Chapter 792: The Situation
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"Old Master..." Mo Hua spoke in a low voice, his throat dry and hoarse, as if the residual effects of the lingering divine sense had taken a toll on his body as well.
"Hmm?" Master Xun looked up briefly from the array diagram he was marking with a vermillion brush before asking, "What is it?"
Mo Hua scanned his spiritual sense within, sensing the state of his sea of consciousness. He found that while the "evil thoughts" of the yao remained, filling and gradually eroding his dao heart, they had weakened considerably.
It seemed that while he was unconscious, his sea of consciousness had been constantly "digesting" these mottled bloodthirsty desires on its own.
"I'm much better now," Mo Hua said.
Master Xun nodded.
Mo Hua glanced at the array diagram in Master Xun's hand and asked, "Old Master, what are those?"
Master Xun sighed softly, "You've taken such a long leave of absence, and you were unconscious for two days as well. I had no choice but to mark these formation exercises myself..."
There was no escaping work.
Mo Hua smiled sheepishly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Master Xun looked at Mo Hua again, his eyes filled with various thoughts, but in the end, he kept them to himself.
"About the matter in the Myriad Demon Valley, Zi You has told me everything."
"You did well."
"However, regarding this matter, you must not breathe a word of it to anyone outside. I have instructed all the inner sect elders and disciples involved not to mention your 'name'."
"I have also informed the Taihe and Chongxu Sects.
"Not only your name, but the names of Linghu Xiao, Ouyang Mu, and Song Jian will also be kept confidential..."
Mo Hua was perplexed, "Is it for secrecy?"
"Not entirely," Master Xun sighed. "Secrecy is important."
"The incident in the Myriad Demon Valley is a huge scandal. But precisely because it is a 'scandal', it is not advisable to make a big deal out of it. Otherwise, there may be..."
Master Xun paused before continuing, "...unforeseen consequences, and it's hard to predict whether it will bring fortune or disaster."
"Moreover, this is also for your own good."
"As disciples of the sect, your priority is to focus on your cultivation. There is no need to get entangled in these bloody and treacherous plots."
"Furthermore, this incident involves some demonic and heretical sects."
"If you get involved in such matters, it will be easy for others to cast aspersions on you. Idle gossip can affect your future cultivation path, and the gains will not be worth the losses..."
Master Xun's expression turned solemn.
He only briefly mentioned it.
But Mo Hua understood.
If the incident in the Myriad Demon Valley were to be publicized, they would have no way to explain themselves.
How could three Foundation Establishment disciples, trapped in a place filled with peak Foundation Establishment demons and devils, escape with the help of another Foundation Establishment disciple?
It sounded like a tale from the Arabian Nights.
No one would believe it.
Moreover, once trapped in a place of demons, how could they prove that they had not been coerced or tempted to consume demonic pills, eat human flesh, cultivate demonic arts, or forge demonic swords?
This would only invite groundless suspicions.
Rumors were a powerful weapon.
If someone with malicious intentions spread rumors and added fuel to the fire, it would be impossible for them to clear their names, even if they cut open their stomachs to prove their innocence.
People who demanded such proof did not actually care whether they were innocent or not.
Mo Hua, being a lone cultivator, had a good relationship with his fellow sect members, so he was not afraid of such rumors.
He did not care about slander from other sects either.
But the others were different.
Linghu Xiao was a sword genius from the Chongxu Sect.
Ouyang Mu, though inconspicuous, was a direct descendant of the Ouyang family and had an outstanding elder brother.
Moreover, their personalities were either reclusive or taciturn, and they did not have good relationships with their fellow sect members. They were not good at explaining themselves either.
Once rumors started, they would probably not even know how to defend themselves.
As for Song Jian...
Oh, Song Jian didn't matter.
Mo Hua suddenly understood.
He had always thought that he was an unknown and insignificant disciple, and that others would not pay attention to him, so he had never considered such matters.
Now that Master Xun had brought it up, he realized that sometimes, one did not need to resort to knives and guns to harm others; rumors were enough.
Mo Hua nodded solemnly, "I understand, Old Master. Thank you for your concern."
Master Xun nodded.
Smart children are indeed a blessing...
With just a hint, he understood.
Mo Hua lowered his voice and asked, "Old Master, what will be the outcome of the Myriad Demon Valley incident?"
He was curious.
In the realm of Qian Xuezhou, where sects flourished and academic traditions thrived, someone had established a base, raised demons, and lured disciples into the demonic path.
The Golden Lock Sect had caused such a huge mess; it was impossible to cover it up completely.
Master Xun hesitated, then asked Mo Hua, "What do you think?"
Mo Hua was taken aback, "Me?"
Master Xun nodded, "If you were the 'old ancestor' of a sect in Qian Xuezhou, what would you do? If you were a high-ranking official in the Daoting administration, what would be your course of action?"
Mo Hua furrowed his brows and followed Master Xun's train of thought:
"If I were an 'old ancestor' in Qian Xuezhou..."
Mo Hua pondered for a moment and had to admit, "...then I suppose the best course of action would be to try and 'cover up' this incident as much as possible."
"Although it was the Golden Lock Sect that caused this mess, the entire Qian Xuezhou realm will suffer together."
"If others were to find out that someone in Qian Xuezhou had established a demon valley and coerced disciples into the demonic path, the reputation of all the sects in Qian Xuezhou would be affected."
"If the Golden Lock Sect is luring disciples into the demonic path, then the other sects might not be clean either."
"After all, in the eyes of outsiders, Qian Xuezhou is seen as a whole. They are unaware of the grievances and conflicts between the sects. They will only think that Qian Xuezhou is colluding with each other, that it is a place filled with smoke and mirrors. No one will send their disciples here to study afterward."
"So, this incident is a 'family shame' for all of Qian Xuezhou. And family shame must not be publicized."
Master Xun nodded.
"And if I were a high-ranking official in the Daoting administration..." Mo Hua continued, "In the case of the Myriad Demon Valley, if I were unaware of it, then it would be fine. But once I know..."
Mo Hua's eyebrows arched, and his tone turned harsh, "Then I would definitely 'exploit' it ruthlessly!"
"Using the pretense of upholding the 'Daoling', I would use this incident as a 'handle' to extort the sects involved in Qian Xuezhou severely, squeeze out all their resources, and then find a pretext to act magnanimously and lightly gloss over it.
"A sect like the Broken Gold Gate, if they know there's no room for negotiation, will naturally adopt a scorched earth mentality."
"But if the Daoting displays a greedy face and only demands 'benefits', they will cling to a glimmer of hope and reluctantly 'cede territory and pay reparations', instead of strongly resisting..."
Mo Hua explained it eloquently.
Master Xun looked at Mo Hua, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.
Mo Hua sensed Master Xun's gaze and asked softly, a hint of uncertainty in his voice, "Old Master, is what I said wrong?"
Master Xun sighed, "You're right."
That was more or less how it was.
A qualified "Old Ancestor" would indeed consider matters in such a way.
Master Xun asked, "Then, from your own perspective, what were your initial thoughts on this matter?"
Mo Hua was taken aback, then replied with a hint of embarrassment, "I thought about it simply... I wanted to make a big deal out of it and bring great misfortune to the Broken Gold Gate!"
"Why would you do that?" Master Xun inquired.
Mo Hua frowned as he thought, "Because the Broken Gold Gate blurs the line between right and wrong, and their actions go against the principles of morality..."
Master Xun nodded, "In that case, your thoughts are not wrong either."
Mo Hua was surprised, "This isn't wrong either?"
Master Xun's expression turned serious, "A sect that blurs the line between right and wrong and acts against the principles of morality, what use is there in keeping them around?"
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn.
Master Xun continued, "You are neither the Old Ancestor of Qian Xuezhou nor a high-ranking official in the Daoting administration. Why bother yourself with considering their interests?"
"You have your own thoughts, and they are not wrong. Naturally, you should act according to your own beliefs."
Mo Hua was a little confused, "Then..."
Master Xun explained, "When I asked you to put yourself in the shoes of an 'Old Ancestor', it was to make you realize that you shouldn't view matters solely from your own perspective."
"It's not just about 'what you think', otherwise, your thinking will be limited, and your vision will be narrow. Eventually, you'll end up becoming a 'pawn' in someone else's game."
"Knowing others is wisdom. The more you understand about others, the better you can control the situation."
"However, you don't have to second-guess or deny your own thoughts."
"If your thoughts align with 'morality', then you are right, and those who go against it are wrong."
"It's just that your strength is too weak, and those who prioritize benefits and reality are too strong. Therefore, matters won't unfold according to your wishes but according to the schemes of those 'Old Ancestors'."
"You must understand this point."
"Sometimes, it's not that you're wrong, but that you're too 'weak'."
"If there comes a day when you reach the Cave Void realm, or even surpass it and attain immense power, many things in the world will naturally unfold according to your will..."
"But since you're not strong now, and the progression of events is controlled by others, you should think more about how others perceive the situation. That way, you'll know how things will develop and what you should do."
Master Xun gave Mo Hua a meaningful look.
"You should learn to view matters from the perspective of an 'Old Ancestor', looking down from above."
"However, I don't hope for you to become that kind of high and mighty 'Old Ancestor' in the future..."
Mo Hua's eyes flickered, and he slowly nodded.
"Alright," Master Xun's tone softened, "I'm getting old. I tend to ramble on and on without realizing it."
Mo Hua solemnly said, "Thank you for your guidance, Old Master."
Master Xun's eyebrows twitched, and his eyes softened.
"Right, Old Master," Mo Hua blinked, "Did we, the Grand Void Sect, not get any benefits from the Broken Gold Gate?"
Master Xun was taken aback, then he smiled faintly, "I'm also an 'Old Ancestor'. How could I let others reap the benefits while I miss out?"
After saying this, Master Xun glanced at Mo Hua and calmly said, "From now on, you can freely use those techniques and formations from the Broken Gold Gate that you have in your possession, whether they are sword techniques or sword formations."
Mo Hua was slightly stunned, realizing that Master Xun might know everything.
However, that was normal.
If Elder Xun Zi You had been keeping an eye on him, then he would surely be aware of the methods Mo Hua frequently used.
And if Elder Xun knew, then it was only natural that Master Xun would also be informed.
Mo Hua still felt a little uneasy, "Can I really use them... The Broken Gold Gate is quite stingy..."
"Use them without worry," Master Xun assured him, "The Broken Gold Gate and our Grand Void Sect uphold the principle of 'setting aside sectarian differences and exchanging cultivation techniques'. We have exchanged some of our inheritances."
"Some of their first and second-rate introductory sword techniques and formations are now part of our Grand Void Sect's library."
"Exchange of inheritances?" Mo Hua was astonished, then he asked, "Then what inheritance did our Grand Void Sect give to the Broken Gold Gate?"
Master Xun scoffed, "Just a bunch of common and mediocre magical techniques, who would remember them..."
Mo Hua paused, realizing that this was how the "exchange" worked.
"So... only introductory techniques?" Mo Hua asked softly.
He felt that both the Broken Gold Sword Technique and the Broken Gold Sword Formation he possessed didn't seem like introductory inheritances of the Broken Gold Gate.
With these inheritances, he felt even more closely connected to the sect than some of their direct descendants.
"Introductory techniques are enough," Master Xun asserted confidently, "Even if you only learn the 'introductory' ones, you will still be stronger than them."
"Even if their inheritance is superior, if they don't apply themselves and can't surpass your diligence, they have no choice but to acknowledge your strength."
Mo Hua felt a bit embarrassed but also understood the underlying reasoning.
It was just an "excuse".
As long as there was a plausible origin and explanation for the Broken Gold Gate techniques he possessed, the actual truth didn't matter much.
Master Xun thought for a moment and added, "This matter involves too much, and all information has been blocked from the public. On the surface, everything seems calm, but underneath, there are turbulent undercurrents."
"The Daoting, the Four Great Sects, and numerous other sects, especially the Broken Gold Gate, as well as our Grand Void, Grand Ultimate, and Grand Penetrating Sects, are all secretly scheming against each other. It's unlikely that things will settle down until everything is resolved."
"So, during this period, keep a low profile and don't reveal anything."
"I... I'm not that familiar with it..." Mo Hua said, feeling a bit guilty.
Master Xun raised an eyebrow but didn't pursue the matter further. Instead, his expression turned solemn as he asked the last question: "Has your divine consciousness been tainted by something sinister within the Refining Yao Diagram?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded slowly.
To be precise, he had "consumed" rather than been tainted by it.
Even Master Xun couldn't fathom that aspect.
Being "tainted" by sinister influences was already a dire situation as he imagined it.
He had never witnessed it himself, so he couldn't possibly conceive just how "ferocious" Mo Hua's divine consciousness had become in that state.
"Tainted by sinister influences..." Master Xun frowned.
"It's alright," Mo Hua said, "Old Master, I can meditate and gradually purify these evil thoughts."
"Meditate?" Master Xun paused, a glimmer of realization flashing in his eyes.
Could it be... that meditation technique taught by that person?
Master Xun pondered for a moment before nodding, "That's good."
However, he still felt uneasy and took out a golden-edged agarwood incense stick and an ancient-looking jade box containing a scroll from his storage bag.
"This high-quality calming incense will help you focus your mind and eliminate distractions when you're meditating."
"As for this scroll..."
When Mo Hua saw the scroll, his heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "A visualization scroll?!"
Master Xun raised an eyebrow, both surprised and yet not entirely so, "You've seen visualization scrolls before?"
"Yes, I've seen a few," Mo Hua admitted honestly.
Master Xun was taken aback by his response.
Not only had he seen "a few," but it seemed like there were even more?
"At such a young age, you've had quite the diverse experiences..." Master Xun thought to himself.
"Since you already know about them, I won't explain further," he said aloud. "This visualization scroll is a treasured item of our Grand Void Sect, a divine artifact. Don't open it casually, especially not in front of outsiders."
"After you return to your residence, light the incense, then open this scroll and visualize it. It will be beneficial for your divine consciousness."
"There aren't many truly 'pure' visualization scrolls left in this world, so cherish it."
Mo Hua was both surprised and grateful, "Old Master, are you really giving me such a precious item?"
Master Xun was speechless for a moment, then glared at Mo Hua, "What do you mean 'giving' it to you? I'm only lending it to you temporarily. After you're done viewing it and your divine consciousness has recovered, return it to me."
"Oh..." Mo Hua nodded.
It was better to borrow it than not have it at all.
Master Xun handed the visualization scroll to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua took it solemnly.
However, as Mo Hua took the scroll, Master Xun's heart suddenly lurched, and he felt as if he were "sending a lamb to the tiger's den."
His hand froze, still holding onto the scroll.
Mo Hua, confused by his hesitation, asked, "Old Master?"
Master Xun snapped out of his thoughts and, with a complex expression, looked at Mo Hua. After a moment of hesitation, he said earnestly, "Remember to return it."
"Absolutely, I won't let anything happen to it..." Mo Hua assured him.
"Yes, yes," Mo Hua readily agreed, "Old Master, don't worry."
So far, every visualization scroll he had seen or handled had ended up "damaged" in one way or another.
But those were other people's scrolls.
This one was from his own sect, so it would surely be different.
Assured by Mo Hua's promise, Master Xun stopped hesitating and finally let go of the scroll, entrusting it to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua accepted it solemnly and carefully stored it away.
After some final instructions, Master Xun prepared to leave, but before he did, he added, "Take good care of yourself during this time, and return to class only when you're fully recovered. However, make sure to catch up on any lessons you miss."
"Cultivation is like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you'll fall behind. Don't be slack."
"Yes, Old Master," Mo Hua replied obediently.
"Oh, right..."
Master Xun had already stood up but turned back for one last look at Mo Hua. He hesitated again before asking, "Your divine consciousness has grown stronger, hasn't it?"
When Mo Hua had been lying in bed, his divine consciousness was weak due to the sinister influences, so its aura hadn't been apparent.
Now, after their conversation, Master Xun clearly sensed that Mo Hua's divine consciousness had become deeper and more refined than before.
"Yes, my divine consciousness unintentionally broke through again..." Mo Hua admitted.
Despite his expectations, Master Xun's heart still skipped a beat.
Another breakthrough.
His cultivation hadn't progressed much, but his divine consciousness had broken through repeatedly. This was indeed...
"Good, good,"
Master Xun nodded in satisfaction.
With this development, his plans were one step closer to fruition.
What had seemed impossible now seemed to have a glimmer of hope.
Master Xun was greatly relieved and encouraged, "Take care of yourself, and when your divine consciousness is fully recovered, come find me, and I'll teach you the eighteen-pattern formation..."
But Mo Hua shook his head, "Not the eighteen-pattern."
Master Xun was taken aback.
"I accidentally broke through a little further..." Mo Hua whispered, "...it's now nineteen patterns..."
Nineteen...
Master Xun felt his chest tighten, and he nearly choked.
Nineteen patterns of divine consciousness? From seventeen directly to nineteen, breaking through two realms in one go?! Master Xun took a deep breath, his eyes filled with disbelief.
His cultivation had just reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, but his divine consciousness was already nearing the pinnacle of the same stage?!
That little brat with the surname Zhuang... Where on earth did he find such a disciple, one who appeared ordinary but had such an extraordinarily "heaven-defying" talent for divine consciousness?
(End of Chapter)
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