Chapter 874: Water Shadow
Chapter 874: Water Shadow
"Prison of the Watery Abyss..."
These few words, dripping with blood, were wild and terrifying, evoking a strange sense of awe.
Mo Hua’s gaze darkened.
His initial suspicions were indeed correct.
The Water Prison Seal, marked with the word “forbidden,” not only contained a forbidden item of the sect leader but also truly hid a forbidden technique.
However, this forbidden technique was not complete; it seemed to be only half-developed.
The question was...
Mo Hua frowned.
Who was researching this forbidden technique?
Was it the successive sect leaders of the Water Prison Sect, or perhaps the founding ancestor of the Water Prison Sect?
What was the direction of their research?
What kind of forbidden technique did the Water Prison Sect aim to develop?
Mo Hua's divine consciousness delved into the jade slip, skimming through the research notes of the forbidden technique, his eyes gradually widening in shock as he read.
The content of the jade slip was profound, and he could only grasp the general idea.
This seemed to be...
An attempt to combine the high-level control technique "Water Prison Art" with the secret "Seven Souls Blood Prison Gaze" technique into a forbidden technique.
By breaking down the structure of the gaze technique and the Water Prison Art, and integrating the techniques of soul manipulation and spiritual energy, they aimed to create a highly unconventional "forbidden path technique."
"The Water Prison Sect truly has great audacity..."
Mo Hua was shaken and then fell into silent contemplation.
The Blood Gaze technique was powerful, and so was the Water Prison Art, but each had its drawbacks.
The gaze technique needed to catch the opponent off guard and couldn't be anticipated.
Xiao Zhenhai and "Water Yama" had demonstrated this.
The first use of the gaze technique, when the opponent was caught off guard, could achieve remarkable results.
Subsequent uses, however, would be less effective.
Use it too often, and even a fool would know to be wary of your gaze technique, making it a mere nuisance rather than a powerful killing move.
Moreover, against true formidable opponents, none of whom lacked cunning and sharp minds, the gaze technique would be far less effective.
If you failed to kill them the first time, it would be much harder to fool them again, with their defenses heightened.
Similarly, the Water Prison Art was powerful, but it was still a high-level technique, and it shared the same drawbacks as other high-level techniques.
It was slow to cast, requiring a long buildup of energy.
While the Water Prison Art, not being a traditional offensive high-level technique, had a slightly shorter casting time, it was still considerably longer than the average spell, giving opponents ample time to react.
Xiao Zhenhai was a case in point.
The first time he used the Water Prison Art, it caught Uncle Gu and Xia Diansi off guard, and they both fell victim to it.
The second time, however, it wasn't so easy.
Even with his Golden Body, he was still broken by the well-prepared Uncle Gu and Xia Diansi, and his Water Prison Art was disrupted, causing severe backlash.
Thus, while these two techniques were powerful, they also had significant limitations.
But if the "gaze technique" and "Water Prison Art" could be fused into one, it would be... terrifying.
Using the gaze technique to initiate the spell, it would be fast, have a wide range, and ignore the Golden Body, affecting both the soul and the physical body.
When casting this spell, others wouldn't even dare to look at you.
Because once they did, they would be trapped with no escape.
Moreover, it was a dual control over both soul and body.
Any cultivator, once ensnared by the "Prison of the Watery Abyss," would become nothing more than a helpless pig, their fate entirely at the mercy of the caster.
Mo Hua took a deep breath, feeling a chill.
Moreover, he had a hunch that the power of this "Prison of the Watery Abyss" might be even greater...
In the advanced and obscure sections of the forbidden technique's research notes, there seemed to be hidden some unknown laws.
Mo Hua had a suspicion:
Could it be that the Water Prison Sect was exterminated by the Dao Court a thousand years ago because of this forbidden technique research?
A chill ran down his spine.
That would be truly terrifying.
"It shouldn't be that extreme..."
He pondered for a moment, but the events of a thousand years ago were too distant, and he knew little about them. Even if he had suspicions, he couldn't verify them.
Even attempting to speculate was risky.
If it were true, the cause and effect that led to the extermination of a twelfth-rank sect would be too great for him to bear.
Then... could he learn it?
Mo Hua's heart stirred as he carefully examined the research notes of the forbidden technique again, but he could only understand a little about the gaze technique and the Water Prison Art.
Not much, just a little.
The rest, the high-level and complex spell structures, were far beyond the realm of a Second Rank Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Mo Hua felt helpless.
"I can't understand it..."
He tried to comprehend it several times, but what he couldn't understand remained beyond his grasp.
Mo Hua had to give up.
Moreover, this was a forbidden technique, and an incomplete one at that, a highly advanced and complex forbidden technique.
It absolutely couldn't be learned lightly.
The Meteor Fire Technique was an exception.
Mo Hua had first comprehended a certain "underlying spiritual energy law" and then, leveraging his advantage in divine consciousness, applied the spell structure of the Meteor Fire Technique to this law, refining it into a Second Rank fire-based forbidden technique:
"Small Meteor Strike."
But forbidden techniques were not comparable.
He wouldn't dare to think that his own creations could match the forbidden techniques researched by the sect leaders and founding ancestors of a twelfth-rank sect.
Learning the Small Meteor Strike had already left him severely injured.
If he were to cultivate this "Prison of the Watery Abyss" forbidden technique, which was far more complex and incomplete, any mistake could be fatal.
Mo Hua shuddered, shaking his head.
"Let's keep it for now..."
Even if he didn't learn it, the research notes of this forbidden technique could still be used for study and reference.
And the significance of such study and reference was immense.
On the surface, it was just an incomplete forbidden technique.
Character Names:
Mo Hua (no change, as it's already a transliteration)
Water Yama -> Hydor Yama ( transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Situ Jian -> Situ Jian (no change, as it's already a transliteration)
Puppet Elder -> Kuilei Elder (transliteration, "Kuilei" meaning "puppet" or "marionette")
Zhang Lan -> Zhang Lan (no change, as it's already a transliteration)
Mr. Xun -> Mr. Xun (no change, as it's already a transliteration)
Terms and Sect Names:
Water Prison Sect -> Hydor Prison Sect (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
True Technique of Water Prison -> Authentic Hydor Prison Technique
Water Prison Technique -> Hydor Prison Control Technique
Water Shadow Illusion Body -> Aquatine Deception Form (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Flowing Water Step -> Liquid Pace Technique (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Water Shadow Step -> Aquatine Shadow Step (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Dao technique -> (no change, as it's a widely accepted transliteration in the context of Chinese cultivation novels)
Qi Condensation stage -> (no change, as it's a widely accepted transliteration in the context of Chinese cultivation novels)
Taixu Sect -> Tai Supreme Sect (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Tai'a Sect -> Tai Ah Sect (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Chongxu Sect -> Vital Ascension Sect (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Tongxian City -> Unity Immortal City (transliteration to maintain contextual meaning)
Rewritten Text:
In Mo Hua's eyes, this collection contained the Hydor Prison Sect's highest-level research and insights into the composition of spirit energy, the principles of spells, and the structure of techniques.
This forbidden technique development manuscript was indeed extremely valuable.
Moreover, no one must ever know about this.
After all, it likely contained the major cause of the Hydor Prison Sect's downfall.
Without hesitation, Mo Hua stored the jade slip in his storage ring.
The incomplete forbidden technique "Sundering Hydor Prison" was something he couldn't learn, so he turned his attention to the other legacies.
The cultivation technique of the "Authentic Hydor Prison Technique" was also out of reach.
Because it was exclusively for the sect master and was too expensive.
He, a "poor man's son," couldn't afford it.
The advanced control technique "Hydor Prison Control Technique" was also not something he could learn.
Mo Hua briefly assessed it and concluded that while he could learn it, it wouldn't be of much use.
His spirit energy foundation couldn't support the consumption of such an "advanced Dao technique."
Even if he forcibly used it once, his spirit energy would probably be drained.
This was still because control-type advanced Dao techniques consumed less spirit energy compared to combat-type Dao techniques.
He didn't even need to look at the other combat-type advanced Dao techniques.
Spending a great deal of effort to learn a control-type technique would result in almost all his spirit energy being used up when he cast it, leaving him unable to use his evasion or concealment techniques afterward.
It was incredibly foolish to think otherwise.
Mo Hua put away both the "Hydor Prison Control Technique" and the "Authentic Hydor Prison Technique."
These were either unlearnable or useless—at least temporarily.
The only one left was the "Aquatine Deception Form."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
This was a water-based body technique that he could learn, and it perfectly complemented his existing Dao technique system.
He had already learned the "Liquid Pace Technique," a water-based body technique.
But the "Aquatine Deception Form" didn't conflict with the "Liquid Pace Technique" and, to some extent, could even complement each other.
The "Liquid Pace Technique" excelled in evasion and maneuvering during direct combat.
The "Aquatine Deception Form," on the other hand, focused on confusing the enemy, using water shadows to create openings for attacks.
He had been eyeing this technique for a long time.
When he saw Hydor Yama use the "Aquatine Shadow Step," he had taken note of it.
Now, having obtained the even more advanced "Aquatine Deception Form," there was no reason not to learn it.
Mo Hua's eyes gleamed.
...
Another month passed.
Mo Hua continued to focus intently on his diligent cultivation.
Cultivation was like water eroding stone, accumulating and solidifying bit by bit in the seemingly monotonous routine.
As time went by, Mo Hua's array techniques and body techniques steadily improved.
His sword techniques, though progressing at a moderate pace, were also gradually advancing.
Meanwhile, the upper echelons of the Tai Supreme Sect were shrouded in a heavy atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.
Occasionally, elders from the Tai Ah Sect and the Vital Ascension Sect would frequently visit the Tai Supreme Sect, discussing something in hushed tones.
Mo Hua secretly asked Mr. Xun what was happening.
Mr. Xun only shook his head and said, "You don't need to worry about these things. Focus on learning array techniques."
Mo Hua hesitated but ultimately didn't speak, only saying, "Yes..."
But clearly, he couldn't let it go.
He was a disciple of the Tai Supreme Sect, and despite his limited power, he wanted to help in any way he could during this critical time.
Seeing this, Mr. Xun pondered for a moment and then said solemnly, "If you can master array techniques to the highest level, that will be the greatest help you can offer to the Tai Supreme Sect."
The words were heavy, and Mr. Xun spoke with utmost solemnity.
Mo Hua was taken aback, understanding the gravity of the situation. He nodded earnestly, "Sir, rest assured, I will study diligently."
Mr. Xun gave Mo Hua a long, deep look and nodded in satisfaction.
From then on, Mo Hua remembered Mr. Xun’s instructions, focusing solely on his array studies and ignoring all other matters.
He had intended to steadily progress in his cultivation, but some unexpected events still occurred.
One day, after practicing sword techniques, reading sword manuals, and studying array books, it was almost midnight. Mo Hua laid down early, his divine consciousness sinking into his sea of consciousness.
In the sea of consciousness, Mo Hua sat in meditation, lost in deep thought.
But after a moment, an eerie laughter suddenly broke the silence.
It was Mo Hua himself laughing.
His face turned pitch black, twisted into something sinister.
Mo Hua reached up and covered his face.
The laughter ceased.
His face returned to normal, but his brow was furrowed.
"Are you happy?"
Mo Hua asked aloud.
The surroundings were deathly quiet. After a while, Mo Hua’s face began to contort, transforming into the visage of an evil infant. Its voice was high and sharp, laughing wickedly:
"I never expected you to be such a perfect divine embryo, even more ‘perfect’ than I imagined."
"Your sea of consciousness is the best incubator; your divine consciousness is the finest nourishment; and your divine soul already shows signs of divine essence formation…"
"The most wonderful part is the fusion of divinity and humanity!"
"Such a divine soul, I have never seen. Once you are transformed, my true self will directly descend, and I will have a body that is half divine, half human."
"This is a true blood-flesh deity!"
"Because of the flesh, evil desires are inherently present."
"Because of the evil deity, evil thoughts never die."
"In the divine hierarchy of the Great Wasteland, among the three thousand divine skeletons, numerous avatars, and various divine embryos, you will be the most unique existence!"
"And you… are also me!"
The evil infant was extremely excited.
Mo Hua frowned, "You talk a lot. Are all evil deities chatterboxes?"
The evil infant’s face darkened, but it then smiled sinisterly:
"Ordinary mortals, no matter how powerful, I wouldn’t bother with. But you are different. You have the right, and you deserve for me to speak so much to you."
Mo Hua said, "Then why don’t you come out, and we can talk?"
The evil infant sneered but didn’t respond.
Mo Hua looked at it with disdain, "Coward."
The evil infant’s face twisted in anger but then calmed, revealing a hint of madness:
"I tolerate your insolence because you will eventually be me, and I am you. So, tolerating you is the same as tolerating myself."
Mo Hua’s eyes flashed with danger, "Aren’t you afraid I might kill you?"
The evil infant, using Mo Hua’s face, smiled malevolently:
"You can’t kill me. Evil thoughts never die. Not to mention, you are only a half-step away from true divinity. Even if you were a real deity, you couldn’t do anything to me…"
"Eventually, you will be mine…"
"I look forward to that day…"
The evil infant laughed darkly one last time and then vanished completely into Mo Hua’s life soul, leaving no trace.
Midnight had arrived.
The Dao Stele appeared.
The crimson lightning on the Dao Stele still emitted a dangerous aura, capable of annihilating everything.
But the evil infant was gone.
Or rather, it had merged with Mo Hua, leaving no trace.
It was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.
Mo Hua was agitated.
This little beast, daring to mock him!
What did it mean?
Mo Hua forced himself to calm down and silently pondered:
"Is this little wretch trying to disturb my Dao heart?"
"Or is it trying to affect my state of mind, making me restless or fearful, so it can take advantage and usurp my body?"
After all, evil deities were adept at manipulating hearts.
Every weakness, greed, unease, fear, and anxiety in the human heart could become a breakthrough for the evil deity.
Mo Hua frowned deeply.
This evil embryo was a major threat.
No matter what, it couldn’t be allowed to continue.
No evil spirit had ever dared to be so arrogant before him.
Even if this evil spirit was an evil deity’s embryo, he couldn’t tolerate it.
He needed to find a way…
Mo Hua’s gaze turned cold.
He couldn’t focus on array studies for the rest of the night, spending it entirely pondering the problem.
The next day, he calmed his mind and continued his cultivation and array studies, refusing to let the evil embryo affect him.
Three days later, it was the seventh day again.
In the disciples’ quarters, the void shattered, and a crack opened. A withered, bony hand reached out.
Mo Hua was once again dragged to the forbidden area at the back of the mountain.
The Patriarch Dugu still sat in the Sword Tomb.
This time, he continued to teach Mo Hua about the sword, as well as to assess his progress.
Mo Hua’s sword skills were still lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.
Patriarch Dugu was as usual, neither surprised nor pleased.
After explaining the principles of swordsmanship and inspecting Mo Hua’s progress, Patriarch Dugu raised his hand to send Mo Hua back to the disciples’ quarters.
At that moment, Mo Hua suddenly said, "Patriarch, I have some questions I would like to ask."
Patriarch Dugu was taken aback, lowering his hand slowly and nodding, "Ask."
Mo Hua carefully said, "Patriarch, you once told me that the Supreme Void Divine Consciousness Transforming Sword True Technique has four existing sword techniques…"
"The Transforming Sword Technique is the foundation, allowing divine consciousness to transform into sword intent…"
"The Astonishing God Technique is an advanced sword technique, capable of manifesting sword intent to intimidate enemies…"
"What about the other two techniques? What sword principles and divine consciousness changes do they contain? How can one cultivate the God-Breaking Technique, and the final technique…"
Mo Hua’s eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of sharpness:
"…the God-Slaying Technique!"
(End of Chapter)
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