https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-793-The-Grand-Diagram-of-the-Cosmos/12543641/
Chapter 794: Shadowy Shadows
Chapter 794: Shadowy Shadows
"Record it under Mo Hua's name?"
Xun Ziyou was stunned.
Master Xun gave him a bland look. "What? Is there a problem?"
"No," Xun Ziyou stammered. "It's not that it's impossible. This time, we were able to discover the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, exterminate those demonic cultivators, and rescue Ling Huxiao and the other two children, all thanks to Mo Hua. But..."
Xun Ziyou hesitated. "This doesn't quite follow the rules. I'm afraid it won't sit well with others."
Master Xun's expression turned slightly stern. "Why should we care about what others think? Those who contribute more should be rewarded more. Our Tai Xu Sect was able to gain benefits from Duan Jinmen because of Mo Hua's efforts. If anyone has objections, let them come to me. I'd like to hear their reasons."
Xun Ziyou smiled bitterly. "Yes..."
Master Xun said, "When the time comes, you can handle it as you see fit. Choose some cleaner cultivation industries with minimal entanglements and transfer them to me first, and then to Mo Hua."
"If others ask, say it was my decision. Of course, if they don't ask, it's better to keep quiet. It's better to be safe than sorry."
After he finished speaking, Master Xun sighed softly and mused, "It's not easy for rogue cultivators to cultivate, especially when it comes to spirit stones. Without spirit stones, it's difficult to make any progress."
"Right now, his cultivation level is still low, so it's not that noticeable. But in the future, when his cultivation base rises, the amount of spirit stones he consumes and produces will be enormous. He'll need a solid foundation to support his cultivation."
"You're right, Ancestor," Xun Ziyou agreed.
However, he still had some doubts in his heart.
"If others heard what you just said and didn't realize that Mo Hua is your grandson, that would be strange..."
But Mo Hua's contributions in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons were significant, so it was reasonable for him to receive a share of the rewards.
Xun Ziyou cupped his hands and said, "Then, after the matter with Duan Jinmen is settled, I will follow your instructions and choose some industries to transfer to Mo Hua. The spirit stones earned annually will also go directly to him."
But to his surprise, Master Xun interrupted him. "Don't give it to him now."
"Don't give it to him?" Xun Ziyou was taken aback.
Master Xun nodded. "Keep it for now. Don't give it to him yet."
Seeing Xun Ziyou's confusion, Master Xun continued, "He's still young. What does he need so many spirit stones for?"
"Having too many spirit stones can easily corrupt one's heart and breed laziness. It might hinder his motivation to strive for improvement."
"Only when he truly needs spirit stones for his cultivation in the future should we give them to him."
"Helping someone in their time of need is always better than adding flowers to an abundance."
The same favor, when given to someone in need, will be remembered as a heartfelt gesture.
Adding flowers to an abundance may sometimes be overlooked.
This was a little selfishness of Master Xun.
He wanted Mo Hua to remember the favors of Tai Xu Sect.
Of course, he also had some concerns.
The "Mysterious Daoist"...
Mo Hua's innate talent for divine sense was exceptionally strong, and there was a possibility that he was even stronger than the "Mysterious Daoist." If he strayed from the right path, the consequences would be unimaginable.
There was even a chance that he could become an even more terrifying demonic cultivator than the "Mysterious Daoist."
Therefore, these spirit stones could only be given to Mo Hua when he grew up and firmly upheld his daoist heart. Otherwise, it would be a grave sin.
Master Xun kept these thoughts to himself.
Xun Ziyou, unaware of the underlying reasons, nodded and said, "Ancestor's consideration is thoughtful."
The two men chatted for a while longer.
When most of the matters had been discussed, Xun Ziyou cupped his hands and said, "It's getting late. I should take my leave now."
"Mm." Master Xun nodded.
Xun Ziyou remained silent for a moment, a question lingering in his mind. But after hesitating several times, he decided not to ask.
Fifth-grade Void Formation...
Neither Master Xun nor Xun Ziyou brought up the topic.
It seemed like everyone had forgotten about it.
But Xun Ziyou knew that this was the most crucial point. However, at this level, involving a fifth-grade formation and a Void Shattering realm expert, it was simply not something he could inquire about, much less involve himself with.
Even if Ancestor Xun discovered something, he wouldn't reveal it.
On the other hand, Mo Hua...
"Ancestor," Xun Ziyou slowly spoke up, "Is the path that Mo Hua is cultivating somewhat different from ordinary cultivators?"
Master Xun's expression remained calm. "How is it different?"
Xun Ziyou furrowed his brows. "His divine sense seems to be significantly stronger than cultivators of the same level. Moreover, he can use his divine sense to intrude into certain types of objects used for visualization, and he seems to be very familiar with the ways of demonic beings..."
"Did Ancestor teach him all these?"
Xun Ziyou's expression turned solemn. "What is this child's background? Where did he obtain such a legacy?"
Master Xun neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply said, "You don't need to ask too much. Just keep it to yourself and don't mention it to others."
"Ancestor..." Xun Ziyou was perplexed.
Master Xun said meaningfully, "If you don't ask, you won't know. And if you don't know, there will be no cause and effect."
"Sometimes, the absence of cause and effect is a good thing..."
Xun Ziyou was taken aback, then nodded solemnly.
Master Xun waved his hand. "Go and attend to your duties."
"Yes," Xun Ziyou replied respectfully. "Disciple takes his leave."
After Xun Ziyou left, Master Xun's expression turned pensive.
He was aware of some secrets regarding Mo Hua, but he never asked about them.
That man with the surname Zhuang had nearly perfected the Heaven's Secret Computation.
Before his death, he must have done something to this child, using the mist of heaven's secrets to obscure some critical cause-and-effect relationships.
As long as Mo Hua didn't speak of the secrets himself, he would be safe.
But if he did, even if he confided in Master Xun, it might not be safe anymore...
Master Xun's gaze turned profound as he let out a soft sigh.
...
The night deepened.
In a secret chamber within a grand hall.
Butcher was being "tortured."
With the annihilation of the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, the demonic cultivators they had nurtured over the years were almost completely wiped out, and the incubated demons had also been devoured.
A fragment of his soul had been obliterated, causing severe damage to his primordial spirit.
If it weren't for a slim chance, the "Young Master's" soul would have been forever trapped in a nightmare.
This was the most devastating loss they had suffered so far.
With the loss of the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons in Refining Demon Mountain, they had also lost an inexhaustible treasure trove.
This was also, to date, the most severe "torture" Butcher had endured.
He witnessed firsthand and personally experienced the various cruel punishments of the Three Thousand Da Huang, a place akin to a prison for mortals.
After the punishment was over, Butcher's skin was rotten and his bones were exposed, leaving him barely human. He looked like a lump of trampled "flesh."
At the same time, even more painful was the torture inflicted on his divine soul.
It was unknown how long it took before Butcher regained his senses from the endless agony.
The pain of divine punishment was imprinted on his soul.
However, his flesh gradually recovered, returning to its human form.
Butcher knelt shakily in front of the ash-white sheep bone deity statue, his mouth trembling as he said, "This sinful slave thanks... thanks the Divine Master for his grace..."
Although the Divine Master had inflicted torture,
The punishment was unprecedentedly harsh.
But Butcher knew in his heart that the Divine Master had shown mercy in the end.
The Divine Master sympathized with him.
The root of this defeat was that the opponent was a "malevolent god."
How could mortals compare to the might of the divine?
It was the malevolent god who was too strong, not that he was too weak.
In the face of divinity, no amount of preparation or meticulous planning would sometimes bear any fruit.
However, despite the heavy losses, they had also gained a great deal.
Butcher prostrated himself fully, his voice filled with fear:
"The true enemy of the Divine Master has revealed itself before this sinful slave..."
"It is a recently hatched, young malevolent god!"
"This god's divine ability is a golden divine sword, but its design is ancient, and its blade is crude, resembling a sword yet not quite a sword."
"The fact that it wields a sword as its divine ability shows the weight of its murderous intent!"
"It has slaughtered all the thousands of demons within the Refinement Demon Diagram, revealing the depth of its malevolence!"
"This god is undoubtedly a malevolent god among the evil gods."
"And the first to bear the brunt of this malevolent god's wrath are the Tai Xu Sect!"
"Even the Chongxu Sect and the Tai Ah Sect are implicated!"
"Within these three sects, there must be high-level cultivators who secretly worship this 'malevolent god,' driven by its will, serving it hand and foot, and carefully laying out plans to protect this young malevolent god as it grows up and establishes its dominion."
"And the purpose of this malevolent god..."
Butcher knocked his head and chattered, "Is the Divine Master!"
The room suddenly darkened.
Fear filled Butcher's heart, and he quickened his pace, "The Divine Master is in slumber, and his divine consciousness is quiet, his might unseen."
"This malevolent god dared to take advantage of this opportunity to covet the authority of the Divine Master, secretly plotting to usurp the Divine Master's power and position, and even..."
"...to lay hands on the Divine Master's divine marrow!"
A sinister wind picked up, and the secret chamber was filled with a deep crimson light, as if an unparalleled pressure was descending, suffocating all within.
The Divine Master was enraged! Butcher knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head.
After a moment, everything dissipated.
Butcher felt as if he had received some sort of "divine sign."
It seemed as if the Divine Master had given him some sort of revelation.
For a moment, Butcher's eyes turned hollow and cruel, exuding an air of sinister authority, before returning to normal.
Butcher hesitated for a moment, his face filled with ecstatic joy.
He suppressed the excitement and agitation in his heart and bowed reverently, "With the grace of the Divine Master, this old slave will do his utmost to set up a heavenly net to capture this 'malevolent god.'"
"Let this young malevolent god become the most sumptuous 'sacrifice' at the ceremony of the Divine Master's resurrection!"
"Let it be known that those who dare to defy the might of our master, even if they are gods, shall surely perish!"
After Butcher finished speaking, the crimson light in the room gradually faded.
The oppressive atmosphere also disappeared completely.
Butcher slowly stood up, but his expression remained solemn.
Hunting down a 'malevolent god' would undoubtedly be an extremely difficult task.
No one knew how much it would cost, how many lives would be lost, or how many demons and sinister beings would be annihilated...
But it was all worth it.
Moreover, that malevolent god was still in its infancy, its divine rank only at the second grade, and its innate divine abilities were not yet fully developed. No matter how strong it was, it was limited.
If they did not eliminate it now, it would surely become a formidable threat in the future!
That malevolent god...
Butcher's mind involuntarily recalled the scene his fragment of soul had witnessed before its final destruction.
Golden light filled the sky, a small divine body, and a crude yet terrifying "divine sword."
This scene was something he had "calculated."
After the death of his fragment of soul, everything related to it would also be erased.
He wasn't supposed to know about it.
It was only by borrowing the Divine Master's mental power that he was able to deduce and see what his fragment of soul had witnessed before its demise.
He dared only to deduce about himself.
Even if he had eighteen times the courage, he wouldn't dare to deduce the fate of a malevolent god.
And in deducing the fate of his fragment of soul, this was the scene he saw.
Aside from this, there were no other clues.
He couldn't see the face or form of the malevolent god.
This wasn't a problem, but what truly concerned Butcher was that he seemed to have caught a glimpse of the malevolent god's eyes.
These eyes were deep as a cold pond, their luster shifting, complex, and bizarre, as if they contained many different layers of power.
And what made his heart pound the most was a "shadow."
This was no ordinary shadow.
Within the shadow in the malevolent god's eyes lurked a strange divine consciousness algorithm.
A name surfaced in Butcher's mind.
He felt his entire body turn cold.
Butcher immediately shook his head, "Impossible, no matter how terrifying and cunning that person's path is, his reach couldn't possibly extend this far..."
"Moreover, it's right under the Divine Master's nose."
"Impossible..."
Butcher mumbled.
In the darkness, there were causes and consequences at play, and Butcher put this suspicion out of his mind, forgetting about it.
However, he didn't realize whether he had forgotten it on his own or if he had been forced to forget...
...
In the Qian Xue State, dark undercurrents stirred.
Mo Hua's days, on the other hand, became more peaceful.
Every day, he lit incense to calm his mind and contemplated the "Tai Xu Diagram" that Elder Xun had given him—Mo Hua didn't know what this diagram was called, so he simply used his specialty to give it a name.
Several days passed, and the remaining mottled and chaotic evil desires lingering in his sea of consciousness were almost completely purged.
Mo Hua spent some extra time consolidating his sea of consciousness.
With this, his divine sense realm had finally stabilized.
Nineteen strands! Mo Hua was delighted.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, nineteen strands were generally considered the peak of their divine sense strength.
Even his senior martial brothers, who were a year ahead of him, didn't have a divine sense as strong as his.
Some of the peak inner sect disciples at the Foundation Establishment pinnacle, if they didn't cultivate array formations or focus on the path of divine sense, would also have weaker divine senses than Mo Hua.
Mo Hua was very satisfied.
Moreover, although his cultivation base hadn't increased, thanks to his divine sense breaking through two minor realms, his spiritual will had become even more powerful. This led to noticeable improvements in most of his cultivation techniques, including array formations, spells, and even the rudimentary 'Divine Sense Sword Manifestation'.
However...
Whenever Mo Hua thought about the Divine Sense Sword Manifestation, he would frown slightly.
His Divine Sense Sword was 'disabled'.
It could only be used in the world of divine sense, including visualized images, illusions, dreams, or nightmares.
It was useless in reality.
But the orthodox 'Tai Xu Divine Sense Sword Manual' shouldn't be like this...
Mo Hua recalled the sword cultivator he had met in the small fishing village.
That senior's Divine Sense Sword could be used in the real world.
Relying on sword techniques, through the external release of divine sense, one could condense sword intent, merging it with sword qi to slash through flesh, demons, ghosts, and evil desires.
However, Mo Hua's was not like that.
He had tried countless times, but to no avail.
It was true that Foundation Establishment cultivators could project their divine sense outward.
But this projection could only be used passively to sense and not actively to attack.
At most, one could actively 'control objects'.
However, this control didn't rely on the divine sense to kill, but rather on the objects being controlled, such as spirit swords or other spiritual artifacts, to carry out attacks and defenses.
Mo Hua sighed.
"What do I need to do to learn the true 'Divine Sense Sword Control'?"
"Is my divine sense not strong enough yet?"
Mo Hua paused as he suddenly remembered that a long time ago, Huang Shan Jun had indeed mentioned the requirements for the divine sense to control a sword:
"At least the Golden Core realm, with more than twenty strands..."
"And even with a Golden Core, one might not be able to cultivate it successfully..."
"After all, the Divine Sense Sword is about transforming sword qi into sword intent, and manifesting sword intent as sword qi, not simply manifesting 'divine sense' as sword qi..."
Mo Hua scratched his head.
Twenty strands, the divine sense of a Golden Core cultivator—who knew when he would reach that stage?
Those who cultivated their divine sense toward enlightenment knew that the amount of divine sense required to break through a major realm, like a single strand, was extremely terrifying.
It had taken Mo Hua a long time to go from nine strands to ten.
As for progressing from nineteen to twenty, the gap between them was probably as wide as an ocean.
Mo Hua thought:
"My divine sense is unique, so I might not need exactly twenty strands. If I can strengthen it a bit more from nineteen strands, maybe I can try again?"
But this raised another problem.
How could he break through from nineteen strands?
It was only because of good luck that he had reached nineteen strands.
Butcher had cultivated in the Demon Valley for who knew how long, amassing a large number of demons and evil beings, which Mo Hua had devoured all at once.
After refining so many evil beings, he had finally satiated the Heavenly Dao Seal, allowing his divine sense to break through from eighteen to nineteen strands in one go.
But there was only one Demon Valley.
No matter how powerful Butcher was, it was impossible for him to create another 'Land of Demons' within the Qian Xue State.
Since that was the case, he had to leave the state.
However, he was still under house arrest...
An idea occurred to Mo Hua. "Why don't I find Master Xun in my free time and ask him if he can lift my house arrest?"
"But what excuse should I use?"
Mo Hua was a little hesitant.
Just as he was undecided and couldn't think of a 'legitimate reason' to convince Master Xun, the latter took the initiative to find him.
"These are the array formations for eighteen strands."
Master Xun handed Mo Hua a thick stack of array formations that included the Five Elements and the Eight Trigrams, instructing him, "Even though your divine sense has already reached nineteen strands, you still need to learn array formations step by step. Start with the eighteen-strand formations and make sure you master them before moving on to the nineteen-strand ones. Don't be overambitious."
"Yes, Master Xun," Mo Hua replied respectfully.
Master Xun glanced at Mo Hua and suddenly asked, "Can your divine sense become even stronger?"
Mo Hua was stunned.
Nineteen strands weren't strong enough? "Do you mean... twenty strands?" Mo Hua asked softly.
Master Xun scoffed, "How could it be twenty strands? Even if you have incredible opportunities and heaven-defying talent, you won't be able to reach twenty strands at the Foundation Establishment realm!"
There was a huge gap between the divine sense of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator and one at the late-Foundation Establishment realm.
This was true for both cultivation base and divine sense.
"Oh, I see." Mo Hua nodded.
Master Xun looked at Mo Hua, his eyes revealing a subtle hint of eager anticipation. "If it can be a bit stronger than it is now, that would be good."
A bit stronger would be safer.
It concerned the future of the sect, so the safer it was, the better.
"Stronger?" Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "I can do that!"
Then, pretending to be hesitant, Mo Hua added in a soft voice, "But I'm afraid it won't be possible within the Qian Xue State. I'll need to go out and seek opportunities, as well as undergo some 'temperance'..."
He didn't mention what these 'opportunities' and 'temperance' were.
Master Xun didn't ask either. He just gave Mo Hua a meaningful look and nodded, "Alright, I won't restrict you anymore. After the New Year, you can go out and wander around."
He wanted to see how far Mo Hua could push his divine sense if he was unrestrained...
(End of Chapter)
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