Chapter 793: The Grand Diagram of the Cosmos
Chapter 793: The Grand Diagram of the Cosmos
Even after returning to the Elder's residence, Elder Xun remained deep in thought.
Disciples with exceptional spiritual roots were rare, but they existed.
Especially within the major aristocratic families and prominent sects, each generation produced a handful of disciples with superior spiritual roots.
And in legends, he had even heard of the fabled Heavenly Spiritual Roots, a rarity akin to a phoenix's feather or a unicorn's horn.
However, disciples with exceptional divine consciousness were truly hard to come by.
Divine consciousness talent was truly inconspicuous and difficult to discern.
Furthermore, the cultivation world lacked cultivation methods for "divine consciousness training," and the inheritance of divine techniques was scarce. Some disciples with potential in divine consciousness didn't know how to temper their sea of consciousness or train their divine sense, easily wasting their talent without even realizing it.
And even if they did cultivate it, the path ahead was treacherous.
The path of divine consciousness was abstruse and perilous.
If one focused solely on cultivating divine consciousness, their abilities would become extremely imbalanced, leading to significant defects and drawbacks.
Even with this kind of talent, few cultivators would choose to walk this path.
As a result, disciples with exceptional divine consciousness talent were hard to discover, nurture, and develop.
Thus far, the only disciple Elder Xun had seen with unparalleled talent in divine consciousness was Mo Hua.
But Mo Hua's situation was rather unique.
It wasn't merely a matter of talent anymore.
At his current realm and with his divine consciousness, Mo Hua had already achieved something "defying the heavens" to the extent that it surpassed the understanding of ordinary cultivators, and even his, Elder Xun's, comprehension.
Elder Xun drew in a slight breath.
At the same time, he became even more convinced of his previous conjecture,
"That person intends for this disciple to walk the path of 'enlightenment through divine consciousness'!"
Elder Xun sighed inwardly.
To guide a solitary cultivator onto such a reclusive, obscure, perilous, and ancient path lacking in inheritance, with no clear future...
It was a truly audacious idea.
That person certainly had guts!
But it was indeed something that person would do.
And...
Elder Xun thought of Mo Hua, of his divine consciousness with nineteen strands, and his heart trembled slightly.
He had actually succeeded in guiding him down that path!
Even at the Foundation Establishment stage, Mo Hua already possessed such a profound foundation in divine consciousness. Given time and further refinement, his future was truly unpredictable...
While divine consciousness was difficult to cultivate and train, and its cultivation methods were obscure and its applications peculiar, that was true for ordinary cultivators.
But if one could truly "leave all others in the dust" on the path of divine consciousness and cultivate it to greatness, then that person would be a true "monster."
Elder Xun's pupils constricted slightly, and a name involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
"The Heretic..."
This name was taboo in both the righteous and demonic paths.
He was the first, and possibly the only, cultivator in the Demon Sect to have attained the title of "Enlightened Master" at the Soul Formation realm.
And this "Heretic" had walked the path of divine consciousness. His cultivation was enigmatic and unfathomable.
Even at the Transformation Realm, he was already elusive and struck fear into the hearts of his enemies.
Countless powerful beings sought his life, but they had no idea how to deal with him.
Once he broke through to the Void Shattering realm, who knew what calamities he would bring...
Moreover, Elder Xun had a persistent premonition.
With the Heretic's intellect and scheming, the day he transcended the mortal realm and shattered the void was probably not far off...
When that day came, who knew what heavenly calamity he would bring about.
"Troubles abound..."
Elder Xun sighed deeply.
Then, he raised his head, gazing past the floating clouds and mist of Tai Xu Mountain, at the sky over the Qian Xue State, which was shrouded in darkness. He sighed again.
For now, let's put the Heretic's matter aside.
The calamity facing the Qian Xue State is probably no small matter...
...
After resting for a day, Mo Hua's body had mostly recovered.
His main issue had been with his divine consciousness.
The gentle and beautiful Third-Rank Pill Master, Elder Murong, examined Mo Hua's meridians, unblocked his spiritual power and blood flow, and massaged his back and forehead acupoints before speaking in a soft voice, "I'll give you some pills to invigorate your blood and dispel blood stasis, as well as calm your mind and spirit. Take them every morning after you wake up. If you feel any discomfort in your body afterward, remember to come and find me."
Mo Hua moved his arms and indeed felt much more comfortable, so he happily said, "Thank you, Elder Murong."
Elder Murong smiled and nodded.
Mo Hua bowed and left the pill room.
Upon returning to his residence, Mo Hua meditated for a while, eager to examine the diagram that Elder Xun had given him, or rather, temporarily "lent" him.
The diagram was placed in a jade box. The paper was ancient, with frayed edges, and it seemed to be countless years old.
Mo Hua extended his palm and gently caressed the diagram, feeling the ancient aura that had settled over it through the years.
However, he didn't rush to open it. Instead, he followed Elder Xun's instructions and first bathed and calmed his mind before lighting the high-quality calming incense.
The incense was placed in an incense burner.
As the flame ignited, wisps of white smoke rose, floating into the air and transforming into a fragrant and serene aroma that permeated the room.
Mo Hua inhaled, and indeed, his spirit felt refreshed, and his mind clarified.
"The old gentleman really gave me a good thing. I wonder how many spirit stones it's worth. It's probably not cheap..."
Amid the curling smoke of the calming incense, Mo Hua sat quietly for a moment before carefully opening the ancient diagram that Elder Xun had gifted him, which had been treasured by the Tai Xu Sect for many years and was "clean."
On the diagram.
A lush mountain range came into view.
The mountains were ancient, and the verdant forests were tinged with a deep ink-like hue, exuding an air of antiquity.
Within the mountains, there stood an ancient and majestic courtyard of a Daoist sect.
The palace and pavilions towered layer upon layer, blending seamlessly with the mountains, as if they had endured countless storms and experienced countless vicissitudes.
Above the mountains, clouds and mist drifted.
Celestial cranes soared, and mystical beasts lurked, adding a touch of liveliness to the ethereal atmosphere.
...
"Is this... the Tai Xu Sect?"
Mo Hua stared at the diagram for a while, feeling that it resembled the Tai Xu Sect, but not entirely.
The diagram did seem to depict a sect.
However, this sect was evidently larger than the Tai Xu Sect. While the style of the palaces and pavilions was similar, they appeared more ancient and dated further back.
Especially the sky above the sect, which seemed more vast and pure.
"Is this the Tai Xu Sect from the past?"
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.
"Let's start the contemplation."
He released his divine consciousness and sensed the diagram, and indeed, he didn't detect any sinister or ghostly aura. It was indeed a "clean" diagram, just as Elder Xun had said.
"Rare..."
Mo Hua calmed his thoughts and began to contemplate the diagram.
In just a short while, Mo Hua felt as if his entire being had been purged of all impurities—the evil, the violent qi, stray thoughts, and greedy desires.
His divine consciousness had barely grown at all.
However, his heart, his very core, felt purer than ever before.
"This is..."
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as a realization struck him.
Could this be the true "contemplation diagram"? By sitting in meditation and observing the diagram, could one understand its profound meanings, purify one's divine consciousness, and refine one's Daoist heart?
Were all the other diagrams he had encountered mere perversions of this original?
Mo Hua nodded slowly.
No wonder his master had told him that contemplation diagrams were treasures sought after by cultivators, great clans, and even the Daoist courts, yet they were also fraught with danger and difficult to distinguish from fakes.
Indeed, a genuine contemplation diagram, imbued with pure and righteous connotations, could enhance one's divine consciousness and refine one's Daoist heart, making it a priceless treasure.
On the other hand, a fake contemplation diagram, tainted by evil spirits and ghosts, could devour one's consciousness and corrupt one's heart, making it extremely perilous.
The line between the real and the fake was blurred, and one's fate hung in the balance.
It was indeed challenging for ordinary cultivators to discern the difference.
"However..." Mo Hua frowned slightly, "My divine consciousness doesn't seem to have increased much after my contemplation."
"Is it that I'm using the wrong method, or is our Tai Xu Sect's contemplation diagram only beneficial for refining the Daoist heart, with minimal effect on enhancing divine consciousness?"
Mo Hua looked up at the contemplation diagram once more, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Never mind, I should be content with what I have. Being able to refine my Daoist heart and rid myself of evil thoughts is already more than enough. I shouldn't be too greedy..."
With that, Mo Hua calmed his mind and continued his contemplation.
After an hour of meditation, his divine consciousness was clear and unobstructed, free from any impure desires.
Feeling that he had made sufficient progress, Mo Hua respectfully put away the contemplation diagram.
Elder Xun had instructed him to view the diagram for one hour each day, neither less nor more, and to always practice moderation.
Mo Hua took this advice to heart.
After putting away the diagram, Mo Hua retrieved his storage bag and rummaged through it, eventually pulling out a broken sword.
It was a bone sword, its entire body a stark white, giving off an eerie aura.
This was the broken sword that housed Jian Goutou.
Normally, such an ominous bone sword would not be allowed within the sect.
Mo Hua had pleaded with Elder Xun, explaining that this bone sword would be of great use to him and assuring him that it would not cause any trouble.
Elder Xun had pondered for a moment before eventually nodding in agreement, allowing Mo Hua to bring the bone sword into the sect.
The other elders could only turn a blind eye to this exception.
However, some rules still had to be followed.
This bone sword was "registered" with the elder in charge of admissions.
While he was allowed to bring it into the mountain and his living quarters, if anything untoward happened within the sect, Mo Hua would be the first to be suspected.
Mo Hua did not want to be blamed for something he didn't do.
Therefore, as a precaution, he had added a divine lock array to the bone sword to seal away any evil tendencies and a divine mist array to conceal its aura.
He left no room for error, ensuring that Jian Goutou had no opportunity to cause trouble.
After confirming that everything was in order, Mo Hua carefully lifted a tiny part of the array, his divine consciousness stirring slightly as he sensed the aura within the broken sword. He then whispered, "Hey..."
There was no response.
"Jian Goutou, are you dead?"
Jian Goutou: "..."
"Speak!"
"Oh, oh," Jian Goutou immediately replied, "Thanks to the little ancestor's blessing, I'm still alive..."
Mo Hua frowned, "Stop with the 'little ancestor' nonsense. I'm not old, nor am I an evil spirit. Why are you calling me an ancestor?"
You may not be an "evil spirit," but you sure eat like one...
Jian Goutou grumbled inwardly.
"Then what should I call you?" Jian Goutou asked softly.
"You figure it out yourself," Mo Hua replied.
Jian Goutou immediately understood the implication. His heart sank as he realized he was being tested to see if he could read the situation and show proper respect.
The current situation was crystal clear.
"In that case, may I address you as... 'Master' from now on?" Jian Goutou asked respectfully.
However, Mo Hua shook his head, "I don't like those two words... No one in this world should be the master of another."
Jian Goutou was taken aback.
What did that mean? He was a little confused.
He tried again, "Then may I address you as... 'Sir'?"
But Mo Hua's expression turned stern, "Are you mocking me for not growing up?"
In reality, he could grow, although it was not noticeable, and his height did increase year after year.
However, the incarnation of his divine consciousness seemed to have remained at the state it was in during the Foundation Establishment stage, before the "qualitative change" of his divine consciousness.
He didn't know if it would ever grow further.
Therefore, when this evil spirit called him "Sir," Mo Hua was displeased.
"I dare not, I dare not..."
Sensing Mo Hua's displeasure, Jian Goutou's skull went numb as the memories of countless evil spirits being devoured by Mo Hua flashed before his eyes. "I won't do anything, I promise!"
This won't do, nor will that...
Jian Goutou's mind raced, and he quickly added, "Then how about I call you 'Young Master'?
Mo Hua was about to refuse.
There were so many young masters in the Qian Xue State, and many of the bad things that happened were caused by them. He didn't like the sound of it.
However, he changed his mind and nodded, "Alright, from now on, you can call me 'Young Master'."
Jian Goutou heaved a sigh of relief.
This little ancestor was indeed hard to please.
Serving a "master" was like serving a tiger.
More importantly, he was indeed a tiger that ate "people," so one had to be extremely careful.
Jian Goutou quickly pledged his loyalty, "Then I shall address you as 'Young Master,' and from now on, Young Master, if you have any commands, I, Jian Goutou, will go through fire and water to fulfill them."
"Hmm."
Mo Hua was slightly satisfied and continued, "You just stay put inside and don't come out. Don't cause any trouble, or else if the sect elders or ancestors discover you, I won't be able to save you."
"And if that really happens, I'll have no choice but to crush you to pieces and destroy all evidence."
"Remember that!"
Jian Goutou's heart trembled, and he quickly replied, "Yes, yes, Young Master's words, I will remember them!"
Mo Hua nodded, then proceeded to seal the array once more, inspecting it carefully to ensure that not a trace of evil aura remained before finally feeling relieved.
Keeping Jian Goutou around did indeed have its benefits.
Firstly, it could serve as his signature treasure.
His own experience in artifact refining was insufficient.
Additionally, it was a case of divine sense invasion.
Mo Hua's divine sense couldn't detach from his body on its own.
In the future, if he encountered some evil spirits, and these spirits were perceptive, they might be able to pull him into their dreams, which would be fine.
But if these evil spirits were ignorant, he would have no choice but to stand by helplessly.
This even included divine sense objects like the Refining Demon Chart; if he didn't know the "sacrifice" ritual, he wouldn't be able to invade it.
With Jian Goutou and this white bone broken sword, he now had a "medium" through which he could construct a divine lock bridge via a divine sense array, connecting the medium and intervening in other divine sense objects, thus achieving divine sense invasion.
Of course, this was just Mo Hua's conjecture.
In actual usage, there would probably be a lot of trouble.
But having a way was better than having no way at all.
Mo Hua carefully put away the white bone broken sword, and seeing that it was already late, he immersed his divine sense into his sea of consciousness and continued to practice the array method on the Daoist stele.
...
In the Elder's residence.
Even though it was late at night, the white-haired Elder Xun was still poring over some scrolls and array methods at his desk.
After a while, Xun Ziyu arrived.
He had been out handling matters for the past few days and had just returned to the sect. Without resting, he rushed over to visit Elder Xun.
He knew that during this turbulent period, the Elder would definitely still be awake.
Xun Ziyu waited outside respectfully.
"Come in."
Elder Xun said calmly.
Xun Ziyu entered and paid his respects before relaying all the information he had gathered, leaving out no details: "The Court of Dao already knows, and it's estimated that there are spies within the Qian Xue State. Although the information was blocked, it still wasn't hidden from the Court of Dao..."
"But this matter was suppressed by the four great sects."
"After all, if this matter were exposed, it would definitely cause panic, and an investigation would be inevitable, delaying the sect reformation."
"Reformation is something that should be done sooner rather than later. If it's delayed for a few years or even a few decades, the situation may change, and it might become impossible to push for it again."
"Therefore, the four great sects didn't want any side issues. In their eyes, the sect reformation is the top priority, and they naturally wouldn't let the matter of Refining Demon Mountain affect the big picture and ruin their plans."
"Of course," Xun Ziyu added with a hint of schadenfreude, "a big loss is definitely unavoidable."
"In order to suppress this matter, they'll have to feed the big mouths above."
"The Court of Dao has a huge appetite, and it won't be easy to satisfy them..."
Elder Xun nodded slightly. "What about the Golden Lock Sect?"
Xun Ziyu said, "Because of those few disciples, the Jin family has completely fallen out of power. The grand elder has retired, and the positions of the other Jin family elders will temporarily remain unchanged. This is the Golden Lock Sect's way of maintaining stability and preventing the situation from escalating, inviting suspicion from others..."
"But these Jin family elders will no longer have the opportunity to advance further. In the future, their positions will not be passed on to Jin family disciples."
"After the fall of the Jin family, the Song family will rise."
"The previous vice head, Jin Yicai's father, who was a direct descendant of the Jin family, was the most hopeful candidate to succeed the Golden Lock Sect's position as head."
"Now, that's completely impossible."
"For the next term, whether it's the position of head or elder, will be chosen from the Song family."
"In the following years, or even decades, the Golden Lock Sect will gradually 'reshuffle,' removing the Jin family disciples and allowing the Song family to rise."
"From now on, the Golden Lock Sect will probably be surnamed 'Song'..."
Xun Ziyu sighed.
The Jin family's influence within the Golden Lock Sect was the result of the hard work of their ancestors and elders over hundreds of years.
Now, it had all been ruined by the recklessness of a few disciples.
Xun Ziyu couldn't help but feel a sense of the rise and fall of a towering edifice.
In the future, it would be extremely difficult for the Jin family to regain their power.
And the Song family, which had been suppressed by them for hundreds of years, had turned the tables, and naturally, they wouldn't let the Jin family off easily.
Xun Ziyu's heart stirred, and he said in a low voice to Elder Xun:
"Elder, now that the situation in the Golden Lock Sect has changed, can we..."
Elder Xun understood his intention and shook his head immediately.
"Don't even think about it."
Xun Ziyu was puzzled.
Elder Xun said calmly, "When the Jin family was in power in the Golden Lock Sect, they were not on good terms with our Supreme Void Sect. Now that the Song family is in power, they will target our Supreme Void Sect as well."
"The Golden Lock Sect is closely aligned with the four great sects."
"They have to follow the four great sects' lead, and moreover..."
Elder Xun paused slightly.
Moreover, from the events in Refining Demon Mountain and the sect reformation, there seemed to be an even deeper "collusion."
However, there was no evidence for now, so Elder Xun didn't elaborate.
He glanced at Xun Ziyu and said, "Do you think that in the matter of Refining Demon Mountain, the Jin family fell into our hands, and the Song family's rise to power is beneficial to them because of our Tai Xu Sect? That we owe them a debt of gratitude?"
Xun Ziyu slowly nodded.
Elder Xun sighed and shook his head. "You're thinking too simply..."
"Whether it's the Jin family or the Song family in power, the Golden Lock Sect is still the Golden Lock Sect."
"It's easy to change the scenery, but hard to change one's nature."
"Moreover, the current Qian Xue State is secretly in turmoil. For the sake of stability, the Song family definitely won't change their course and forge an alliance with our Tai Xu Sect, with whom they have never had any relationship."
"Internally, they will suppress the Jin family, and externally, they will continue to ally with the four great sects, using the 'Golden Lock Sect' name to bring all of the Jin family's previous connections under their control."
"That's the right thing to do."
Xun Ziyu understood, and then he looked at Elder Xun with admiring eyes.
The Elder truly deserved his position.
"Then, for this negotiation with the Golden Lock Sect..." Xun Ziyu asked.
Elder Xun's eyes sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, "Show no mercy and demand a hefty price!"
"If you go easy on them, they might not appreciate your kindness, but instead, they may think that our Tai Xu Sect is weak and easy to bully."
"Cut them deeply, let them feel the pain, and even if they resent us in their hearts, they will also know that our Tai Xu Sect is not to be trifled with."
Xun Ziyu cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Elder."
"There's one more thing..."
Elder Xun's eyes narrowed in thought, and then he said, "After this negotiation, set aside a portion of the assets ceded by the Golden Lock Sect and put it under the name of..."
Elder Xun paused for a moment, then slowly said,
"...Mo Hua."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
