Chapter 830: The Forbidden Casket
Chapter 830: The Forbidden Casket
Xiao Tianquan's murderous intent suddenly vanished.
The chill that Mo Hua felt at his back disappeared, but the doubts in his heart only grew.
What was Xiao Tianquan truly searching for?
Did he have any connection to the water bandits?
Was he familiar with the Water King of Hell?
Mo Hua recalled Xiao Tianquan's peculiar behavior during their journey.
At least on the surface, Xiao Tianquan hadn't done anything amiss during this mission to exterminate the water bandits, nor had he employed any underhanded tactics.
He had carried out all the tasks assigned by Xia Dian without deviation.
When it came to killing the water bandits, he showed no mercy and held nothing back.
In fact, he killed with even greater fervor than the others.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows.
"There's something peculiar about the Xiao family, about Xiao Tianquan," he thought.
Afterward, he searched through the remaining secret rooms and found a formation chart and several stolen goods.
But that was it.
He had searched high and low, looked for anything that could be of relevance, and what he couldn't find simply wasn't there.
Mo Hua sat on a high platform, overlooking the island and the moonlit, shimmering waters of the Yanshui River in the distance. He waited for news from Uncle Gu and Xia Dian.
After more than a watch had passed, Gu Changhuai and Xia Dian returned.
They looked weary, and their expressions were cold.
Mo Hua sighed, guessing that the Water King of Hell had escaped once again.
Gu Changhuai's expression was grim. "There was a secret passage on the island. The Water King of Hell had a backup plan, and he escaped through that passage..."
"We pursued him, but that vile creature is too adept in water. Once he entered his element, he moved like a dragon, his abilities enhanced. He swam through the river with ease, creating waves and riding the wind."
"Even though he was injured and his vitality was diminished, he still managed to escape. Just as we were about to corner him, he suddenly swam towards the neighboring Third-Rank river domain..."
"Third-Rank?" Mo Hua was surprised.
"Yes," Gu Changhuai nodded.
Mo Hua frowned, "If he entered the Third-Rank domain, then the Water King of Hell would be even more outmatched by you and Xia Dian, right?"
After all, the Water King of Hell was only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. It was only due to the heavenly path's suppression that he could contend with Gu Changhuai and Xia Dian, who had attained the Golden Core stage.
Entering the Third-Rank domain would be akin to signing his own death warrant.
A cold light flashed in Gu Changhuai's eyes as he said, "That wretched king is indeed seeking death. As soon as he entered the Third-Rank waters and was free from the cultivation restriction, I unleashed my Golden Core power. With just one wind blade, I severed his arm."
Mo Hua was astonished.
Sensing Mo Hua's thoughts, Gu Changhuai glanced at him and said, "You don't really think that a Golden Core cultivator like myself can't defeat a mere Foundation Establishment stage opponent, do you?"
Mo Hua shook his head repeatedly, feeling embarrassed. "Of course not."
A hint of displeasure flashed across Gu Changhuai's face, and he furrowed his brows. "Just as I was about to deliver the finishing blow with another wind blade... someone intervened and saved him."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Who?"
Gu Changhuai shook his head, his expression grave. "This person's cultivation is profound, but they hid their identity well, refraining from using any distinct abilities. After saving the Water King, they dove into the water and disappeared without a trace, despite our efforts to find them."
"It's as if a mist obscured everything, clouding our senses..."
"Mist..." Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat at the mention of mist.
Xia Dian, who had been silent beside them, sighed. "Although the Water King of Hell escaped, at least we destroyed the bandit stronghold and eliminated the water bandits. This expedition can be deemed a success, and the Dao Court will surely bestow rewards."
She glanced at Mo Hua, and her tone softened. "This mission was a success thanks to your help. I will request additional merit for you from our superiors."
"Thank you, Xia Dian," Mo Hua said.
Xia Dian had become accustomed to being called by her name, especially after witnessing Mo Hua's talent and proficiency in formations during this operation. The term of endearment no longer made her feel uncomfortable.
"I have some aftermath matters to attend to. Take care of yourself, and we'll depart at daybreak," Xia Dian said.
"Okay," Mo Hua nodded.
Xia Dian gave him a gentle look before leaving.
However, Mo Hua's curiosity got the better of him, and he quietly asked Gu Changhuai, "The Water King of Hell has escaped, but Xia Dian doesn't seem too worried. Why is that?"
Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua with an indifferent expression.
Mo Hua met his gaze.
With a resigned sigh, Gu Changhuai explained, "The Water King of Hell is both bait and prey. Now that a bigger fish has taken the bait, it's only natural to be pleased."
"Although this big fish swallowed the bait and fled, at least it has revealed itself."
"We are in Qian Xue State, and the Dao Court is orchestrating everything. A fish that surfaces, no matter how large, is not to be feared. What we truly fear is a hidden predator lurking in the depths."
Mo Hua understood and nodded.
For the Dao Court and the Xia family, the extermination of the water bandits was not the end but merely the prelude to something much larger.
The situation ahead would likely become even more intricate and dangerous.
He wondered if he could still take advantage of the chaos...
As Mo Hua pondered, Gu Changhuai suddenly asked, "By the way, why was the Water King of Hell so enraged that he chased after you with bloodshot eyes?"
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Because I stole his most prized possession...
Gu Changhuai's gaze intensified as he looked at Mo Hua, as if waiting for an explanation.
Clearing his throat, Mo Hua coughed and said vaguely, "Well... I caught him trying to flee with his belongings, and he became angry and wanted to silence me."
Gufeng continued, "You know the kind of person Shui Yanluo is, Uncle Gu. He's the type to hold grudges..."
Upon hearing this, Gu Changhui realized that Mo Hua was bluffing.
However, after a moment's thought, it seemed only natural that these bandits would want to kill Mo Hua.
There were times when he even felt like strangling the boy himself.
Sympathizing with Mo Hua's situation, Gu Changhui decided to let the matter drop.
"I have some other matters to attend to. You stay put and wait for me, and we'll head back together later," Gu Changhui said.
"Okay," Mo Hua replied obediently.
Soon after, Gu Changhui also got up to leave.
Both Gu Changhui and Xia Dianci were busy with the aftermath of the battle.
The area was now empty, aside from the scattered bodies of the river bandits lying in various positions, and Mo Hua was left alone.
Feeling a bit bored, he jumped back up onto the high platform, sat on the edge, and gazed into the distance.
Half an hour later, the sun began to rise in the east, gradually dispelling the morning mist over the island. The bright morning sun illuminated the bodies of the river bandits lying on the ground.
Mo Hua sat silently on the high platform, watching the sunrise.
Below him, the bodies of the river bandits that had covered the ground were now out of sight.
...
Another hour passed, and the cleanup by the Daotinsi was completed.
This was faster than Xia Dianci had anticipated.
Since Mo Hua had already searched the island thoroughly, they only needed to count the number of people, inventory the loot, and then bring everything back to the Daotinsi.
Mo Hua's thoroughness had saved them a lot of trouble.
Xia Dianci sighed inwardly.
After finishing the inventory, they gathered their people.
The surviving river bandits were knocked out and bound with chains before being taken back to the Daotinsi as well.
Then, everyone boarded the spirit boat and set off on their return journey.
When they had arrived, it had been night, and the river had been cool and dark, with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
Now, as they returned, it was morning, and the sunlight was bright and cheerful, sparkling on the river's surface.
Everyone's mood lightened slightly.
Only Xiao Tianquan remained silent, his expression unreadable as he seemed lost in thought.
After traveling for another half hour, the spirit boat docked, and the group stepped onto solid ground, feeling a sense of relief.
Once they returned, they would need to tend to the injured, console the families of the fallen, and the matter of the river bandits would be temporarily concluded.
Fighting always led to casualties, and that was something the cultivators serving in the Daotinsi were well aware of.
Although Mo Hua felt regret, there was nothing more he could have done.
If he hadn't broken the Eight Trigrams Array, the casualties would have been much higher as they would have been trapped on the island, desperately fighting against the river bandits and their arrays.
Compared to the success of the bandit suppression, the casualties they had suffered were relatively minor.
After that, Mo Hua was no longer needed.
He planned to return to his sect and study the treasures he had just obtained. However, just then, he heard a voice say:
"Xia Dianci, shouldn't we inspect the storage bags?"
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.
Xia Dianci was also a little surprised.
Gu Changhui's gaze turned cold as he looked at the speaker.
It was none other than Xiao Tianquan.
Xia Dianci replied calmly, "Didn't we already check them?"
According to the rules of the Daotinsi, all cultivators serving in the Daotinsi were not allowed to bring their own storage bags when carrying out tasks.
For special missions, the Daotinsi would provide standardized storage bags for the Diancis and executives to store their spiritual tools, as well as some spiritual stones and elixirs supplied by the Daotinsi.
After the task was completed, the storage bags would be collected and inspected.
This was done to ensure that Daotinsi cultivators did not secretly stash away "loot" for personal gain during their missions.
While this rule could not completely eliminate embezzlement, it was effective enough to prevent it in the majority of cases.
And that was good enough.
No rule could be one hundred percent effective, and curbing most cases of corruption was already considered a great achievement.
Naturally, Xia Dianci had followed this procedure and inspected the storage bags of all the cultivators on the island.
"We did check, but not everyone's..." Xiao Tianquan said, and then he looked at Mo Hua with a serious expression, "That young brother's storage bag wasn't inspected."
He maintained a solemn demeanor, acting in the name of "official duty."
Xia Dianci frowned.
Gu Changhui's expression turned cold, "He's not one of us."
Xiao Tianquan's expression turned solemn, "Even though he's not from the Daotinsi, since he followed us on this mission, he should abide by the rules of the Daotinsi..."
Xiao Tianquan looked at Gu Changhui, his eyes sharp, "Unless the Gu Dianci intends to shield this young brother?"
Gu Changhui's eyelid twitched, and his gaze turned even colder.
The atmosphere became tense.
Xia Dianci turned her head and glanced at Mo Hua, looking troubled.
Technically, they should inspect his storage bag.
But Mo Hua's situation was unique, and if no one had mentioned it, they wouldn't have thought to inspect the storage bag of a junior cultivator like him.
However, now that Xiao Tianquan had brought it up, they had to "follow the rules strictly."
Otherwise, as the Xia family Dianci, it would be difficult for her to explain things to the other disciples.
The Xia family was known for their collection of geniuses, and the competition among the disciples was fierce.
While she could command them, she would undoubtedly face gossip and criticism behind her back.
But if they really had to inspect Mo Hua's storage bag...
Xia Dianci looked at Mo Hua, her gaze seeking his reaction.
Mo Hua rubbed the storage ring on his right thumb, the one that was soul-bound and invisible to others, and nodded. "Everyone else has been searched, so I shouldn't be an exception."
With a calm expression, he handed his storage bag to Xia Dianci without the slightest hesitation.
Xia Dianci glanced at Mo Hua with a hint of surprise before immersing her consciousness into the bag and examining its contents.
There were spirit stones, but not an abundance of them. Some spare pills were also present, bearing the mark of the Grand Void Sect, and others with the mark of the Gu family. These pills had been given to Mo Hua by Elder Murong and Wen Renwan.
There were also several spiritual swords, artifacts, and a variety of array materials. However, their origins were legitimate, and not a single item could be traced back to the river bandits.
The only unusual items were the array diagrams.
There was a large stack of them, piled up in a disorganized yet intriguing manner.
Moreover, these array diagrams originated from various sources.
Some belonged to the Grand Void Sect, while others were from the Shangguan, Wen Ren, and Gu families. A few were even scavenged from the island.
They covered a wide range of complexities, from first-rank to high-second-rank, and encompassed the five elements—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—as well as the Gen mountain array, Li fire array, Dui marsh array, and Kan water array from the eight trigrams. There were also a few arrays related to primordial magnetism, showcasing an impressive variety.
The crowd couldn't help but be astonished by the collection.
Even those cultivators who didn't understand arrays could grasp the complexity and depth of these array techniques.
And for those who did understand arrays, they knew all too well the challenges of studying such a vast collection of diagrams.
For Mo Hua to carry so many intricate array diagrams with him, he must have had access to an extensive array lineage and an exceptional talent for arrays. His perseverance and dedication to studying arrays set him apart from ordinary cultivators, and his future achievements in this field seemed limitless.
The group's gazes toward Mo Hua turned respectful.
Even Xia Dianci was impressed.
An entire storage bag filled with array diagrams...
No wonder he had achieved such a high level of proficiency in arrays at a young age.
His talent, coupled with his keen understanding and diligent study habits, was indeed commendable for someone his age...
Xia Dianci breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been worried about this moment.
Given Mo Hua's youth, she expected him to lack the discipline to resist keeping something from the island for himself.
Even some of the other officers couldn't resist such temptations.
However, she hadn't anticipated Mo Hua's upright and honest character. He hadn't taken anything that wasn't rightfully his.
As for the array diagrams, their origins were already complex, and it would be difficult to determine their original owners.
Even if some of them had indeed come from the island, it wouldn't be prudent to bring it up at this point.
Array masters were highly regarded, and it was only natural for them to acquire array diagrams.
Moreover, Mo Hua had broken the island's array and hadn't asked for any special compensation. Taking a few array diagrams was more than justified.
She had misjudged him with her narrow-minded suspicions.
Xia Dianci felt a twinge of guilt and looked at Mo Hua with newfound respect.
If this young man joined the Dao Court and maintained his integrity and uprightness, he would likely achieve greatness as an officer.
Xia Dianci's expression turned neutral as she glanced at Xiao Tianquan. "Xiao Dian, do you have any concerns?"
Xiao Tianquan's gaze lingered on Mo Hua's storage bag, his expression hesitant as if wrestling with an internal dilemma. Finally, he cupped his hands and said, "No issues, my apologies."
He then bowed to Mo Hua and smiled. "It was my mistake. I hope you can forgive me."
Mo Hua returned the smile. "It's fine. Let's forget about it."
Seeing that Mo Hua held no grudges, Xia Dianci nodded slightly and instructed, "Alright, let's head back."
The group returned without incident, but Mo Hua's suspicions were confirmed...
This Howling Sky Dog was indeed searching for something.
And it was something extremely important.
So important that he had risked offending Gu Changhui and Xia Dianci by insisting on inspecting Mo Hua's belongings at this critical juncture.
"Because if he doesn't search now, once we return to the boundary of White Snow State, we'll part ways, and he'll never know for certain if I found what he seeks on the island..."
"What is he trying to find on me?"
"What could be so important?"
"Could it be... related to the Water King of Hell's jade casket?"
Mo Hua rubbed his thumb again, deep in thought.
"Regardless, I won't let this matter go..."
"To target me publicly and even dare to show murderous intent... "
Mo Hua's gaze turned icy.
...
Upon reaching the boundary of White Snow State, Xia Dianci and her group returned to the Dao Court.
Although Gu Changhui remained silent, he personally escorted Mo Hua back to the mountain gate of the Grand Void Sect.
It seemed like he had sensed something, but he only reminded Mo Hua, "Be cautious of the Xiao family. Focus on your cultivation within the sect, and don't wander off alone."
"Yes, Uncle Gu. I will keep your words in mind," Mo Hua assured him.
Gu Changhui nodded slightly and took his leave.
Mo Hua presented his Grand Void token and entered the mountain gate by himself.
Upon his return to the sect, it was already noon.
Mo Hua first reported to Elder Song to conclude his task and then returned to his residence. After bathing and changing into the sect's robe, he appeared no different from any other disciple as he made his way to class.
The teaching elder, aware of Mo Hua's connection to Elder Xun and his status as a "special case" within the sect, didn't press the issue further.
The other disciples, accustomed to Mo Hua's frequent absences for "formation drawing," found nothing amiss and were unsurprised by his return.
And so, after laying out formations to exterminate the bandits in the morning, Mo Hua attended his classes in the sect as usual in the afternoon.
When evening fell, after finishing his meal, Mo Hua spent some time practicing formations with Yu'er before returning to his disciple's residence. He secured the doors and windows and sealed the formation before carefully retrieving the jade casket he had taken from Shui Yanluo from his storage ring.
The jade casket felt heavy in his hand; it was crafted from an unknown, watery-blue jade.
Etched on its surface was a picture.
Mo Hua hadn't had the chance to examine it closely in Shui Yanluo's secret chamber, but now, back in the sect, he took the time to scrutinize it.
It depicted a grim prison, with hideous torture devices and prisoners of all sorts enduring excruciating pain, contorting and crying out in agony.
The watery-blue jade casket and the gruesome prison scene it bore were suffused with a dense, chilling aura.
"Is this... a visualization diagram?"
Mo Hua was perplexed.
He extended his spiritual sense, focusing intently on the prison engraving on the jade casket, but detected nothing out of the ordinary after a long while.
There were no evil spirits lurking within.
Nor did it seem to harbor vengeful ghosts or similar entities.
Aside from the icy, malicious aura, Mo Hua sensed nothing else.
"It's not a visualization diagram? Just a casket, then?"
Mo Hua frowned and then tried to open the jade casket.
But despite his efforts, it remained firmly shut.
Squinting, he examined it more closely and realized that while it appeared to be a "casket," it had not the slightest crack or seam. There was no lid, no lock, just a solid block of jade, flawless and seamless...
"It's not a visualization diagram, and there are no evil spirits within."
"There's no lock, no seams, and it can't be opened."
"I have no idea what's inside."
Mo Hua was momentarily stumped.
"Should I try to capture Shui Yanluo again and interrogate him about it?"
The thought had barely formed when Mo Hua dismissed it.
Shui Yanluo had been rescued by the Golden Core cultivator and had disappeared; he had no idea where to find him now.
Even if he did capture him, it probably wouldn't be of any use.
Given Shui Yanluo's temperament, if he knew that Mo Hua had taken his jade casket, he would undoubtedly want to tear him limb from limb. There was no way he would reveal the secret of the jade casket.
So, what should he do with the jade casket?
Mo Hua couldn't just stare at it, and his curiosity grew into a pressing urge.
He wanted to open it and see what was inside.
Ever since he had comprehended a bit of the heavenly mechanism algorithm and gained some insight into the way of causality, Mo Hua would occasionally get inexplicable "intuitions."
And now, he had a vague intuition that this jade casket might be of utmost importance to him...
Could it be...
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as anticipation rose within him.
"If I can't ask Shui Yanluo, then I'll have to find someone else."
Someone else—the heir of the Water Prison Sect.
A few days later, during the weekly break, Mo Hua paid another visit to the Gu family, but this time, he sought out Yu Canghai instead of Gu Changhuai.
This elder of the Water Prison Sect was likely the only surviving Golden Core cultivator of his sect.
Upon seeing Mo Hua, Yu Canghai was quite polite and bowed, saying, "Young friend, it's been a while."
He was a Golden Core cultivator, while Mo Hua was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, but he treated Mo Hua with respect and as an equal.
After all, in front of Mo Hua, a disciple of a major sect with a powerful background and extensive connections, he, a fallen Golden Core cultivator of the disgraced Water Prison Sect, dared not act arrogantly.
Mo Hua exchanged pleasantries and then subtly probed, asking about the Water Prison Sect, especially their method of passing down their legacy.
However, Yu Canghai was adept at concealing his thoughts and replied concisely, neither offending Mo Hua nor revealing too much.
He didn't seem evasive, nor did he disclose any sect secrets.
Mo Hua couldn't get the information he wanted, and his eyes flickered as he lowered his voice and quietly said, "A few days ago, I attempted to capture Shui Yanluo..."
Even with Yu Canghai's deep scheming nature, his heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly stood up, his expression shaken.
Mo Hua saw the elder's reaction and realized that Gu Changhuai hadn't informed him about Shui Yanluo.
Yu Canghai wanted to ask about his whereabouts, but he didn't know how to broach the subject. Finally, he asked in a trembling voice, "That vile creature... did you...?"
Mo Hua sighed, "He didn't die. He escaped."
Yu Canghai was greatly disappointed and sat down dejectedly.
"But Shui Yanluo had something very peculiar with him," Mo Hua frowned.
"Something?" Yu Canghai asked, his brow furrowed.
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, feigning ignorance as he described, "It's a jade casket, watery-blue in color, with an engraving. The engraving depicts a prison with people being tortured, their faces contorted in agony and despair..."
Before Mo Hua could finish, he noticed Yu Canghai's eyes widening, his entire body stiffening in shock as he whispered, "The Water Prison Restraining Casket..."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly.
So that was its name.
(End of Chapter)
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