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Chapter 891: The Demon Sect
Chapter 891: The Demon Sect
At the rear mountain of the Great Void Sect.
Old Master Xun carried a flask of wine and slowly entered the forbidden area at the back of the mountain, stepping into the Sword Tomb, a place where the aura of killing intent and sword energy was sparse and withered.
Inside the Sword Tomb, Patriarch Dugu still sat like a solitary stone atop a cliff, unmoved by the wind and rain.
Old Master Xun placed the wine flask in front of Patriarch Dugu and said, "Elder Brother, there's something to celebrate today. Have a drink."
Patriarch Dugu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze narrowing in disbelief. "The three sects... they've really merged again?"
"Yes..." Old Master Xun said with a sense of relief. "They've merged again, and now we are one family once more. It's a pity, though, that the old name carries too much fortune and can no longer be used."
His expression then turned somewhat wistful.
These old relics still had deep sentiments for the names of their ancestors.
Patriarch Dugu's expression was complex, and after a moment, he looked at Old Master Xun and said in a hoarse voice, "Brother, you've worked hard... thank you."
The merger of the three sects was a monumental task, fraught with difficulties.
To conceal the heavenly machinations, seek opportunities, and overcome numerous obstacles to merge the three sects into one lineage, required immense effort and a great deal of scheming, both openly and in secret.
He, however, was plagued by the Heavenly Demon and could only remain confined to the Sword Tomb's forbidden area.
On ordinary days, to maintain his true self, he would not even release his divine consciousness unless the heavenly machinations were in turmoil or there were unusual causalities.
He was completely blind and deaf to the outside world, unable to help with anything.
Thus, all the burdens naturally fell on his younger brother's shoulders.
This younger brother, who was once quiet and had mediocre talent in swordsmanship, had now become the true pillar of the Great Void Sect.
On the contrary, he, the sword prodigy with extraordinary talent and great expectations, had become a cripple, buried alive in the Sword Tomb.
He had failed the Great Void Sect and had become a burden to his younger brother.
Patriarch Dugu's emotions were heavy, but he kept them hidden, never speaking of them.
He looked at the wine flask in front of him and shook his head. "The Heavenly Demon confounds my mind. I cannot drink."
"Relax, I've diluted it with water. It's fine to take a sip," Old Master Xun said. "Consider it a celebration of the three sects coming back together."
Patriarch Dugu remained silent.
Old Master Xun sighed, his expression filled with nostalgia. "This is clear wine, brewed by our Master years ago. I've kept it until now."
Patriarch Dugu was moved by this and hesitantly picked up the wine flask, taking a shallow sip.
After drinking, he frowned. "You lied to me? This isn't the wine brewed by Master."
Old Master Xun nodded. "Master left some wine, and I continued brewing it afterward."
"Of course, the wine you brew tastes terrible. I might as well not drink it."
"I didn't really bring it for you to drink. Today, with the three sects merging, I just wanted you to celebrate and taste it."
Patriarch Dugu put down the wine flask, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "How did those two young fellows, Ouyang and Linghu, agree to this?"
The "young fellows" Patriarch Dugu referred to were Patriarch Ouyang of the Taiyi Sect and Patriarch Linghu of the Chongxu Sect.
These two were junior to him and had ascended to the Void Realm later than he had.
Old Master Xun explained, "The heavenly machinations are murky, and the causalities are chaotic, making the future unpredictable. Plus, their own sects are struggling to survive, so they had to seek change to survive. This provided the perfect opportunity for the three sects to merge."
"Of course, there was another important reason that made Taiyi and Chongxu willing to have the Great Void Sect lead the reconstruction of the mountain gate."
Old Master Xun said solemnly, "At the Dao Discussion Conference, our Great Void Sect won first place in the array competition!"
"First place in the array competition?"
Patriarch Dugu was taken aback, somewhat surprised. "Our Great Void Sect can win first place in array competition?"
Winning first place in swordsmanship, he could barely believe that.
But first place in array competition?
What does the Great Void Sect have to win that?
Our ancestors never had such a foundation...
"Who won it?" Patriarch Dugu asked.
Old Master Xun said with a sense of relief, "This child, Elder Brother, you might not know. He didn't come from our Great Void Sect, nor was he from a prominent family. He was even pushed into our Great Void Sect through connections. His name is Mo Hua..."
Patriarch Dugu was stunned. He almost suspected his ears were playing tricks on him.
"Who?"
"Mo Hua."
Old Master Xun repeated, his expression filled with gratitude. "It's a blessing from our ancestors. If this child hadn't fallen from the sky into our Great Void Sect, we wouldn't have been able to merge the three sects, let alone pass the Dao Discussion Conference."
As he spoke, he noticed a change in Patriarch Dugu's expression and his heart skipped a beat. His gaze sharpened.
"Elder Brother, do you know this child?"
Patriarch Dugu's heart raced.
Not only do I know him, but I also taught him sword techniques...
He couldn't say this, but he was also too proud to lie, so he remained silent and expressionless.
Old Master Xun was slightly taken aback and, after a moment of thought, shook his head.
"How could Elder Brother know Mo Hua?"
"Elder Brother was injured by the Heavenly Demon and sealed by the Great Void Sect's divine lock, confined to the Sword Tomb for so many years, never stepping out."
"Mo Hua couldn't have come to the rear mountain. It's a forbidden area, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't."
"Besides, Mo Hua spends his days drawing arrays, practicing, and attending classes. Where would he find the time to come to the rear mountain?"
An elder and a young disciple.
The two had no blood ties or familial connections.
How could they possibly have any karmic connection?
Xun Laoxian thought to himself.
Dugu Laozu was also somewhat puzzled.
Mo Hua... could it be a coincidence?
This "Mo Hua" couldn't possibly be the same Mo Hua he knew, right?
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence...
And the Mo Hua he knew, though her divine consciousness was strong, was only at the Mid Foundation Stage. She had an innocent and cheerful demeanor, which didn't quite fit the image of an "array master."
Dugu Laozu's eyes flickered as he asked, "What does this Mo Hua look like, and what is her background?"
Xun Laoxian didn't doubt for a moment and began to lavish praise on Mo Hua, describing her in glowing terms:
"She's not old, at the Mid Foundation Stage, with a beautiful appearance that grows more charming the more you look at her. Her spiritual roots are a bit lacking, but her comprehension is very high. She is diligent, hardworking, and ambitious, with a noble and unyielding Dao heart. She is also polite and considerate..."
Xun Laoxian praised Mo Hua as if she were a flower.
Dugu Laozu fell silent.
He could now confirm that this Mo Hua was indeed the same Mo Hua he had brought to the Sword Tomb.
But this Mo Hua was a bit different.
At least, the Mo Hua in his little brother's eyes was quite different from the one in his own.
"You mean to say that at the Mid Foundation Stage, she could win the Dao Discussion Champion?"
"Yes."
Dugu Laozu frowned, "Doesn't this mean that at the Mid Foundation Stage, she can already draw a nineteen-line formation?"
Xun Laoxian nodded, his expression filled with satisfaction.
This time, he had broadened his horizons by bringing her to the Jianxue State. Now, he had also broadened the horizons of his elder brother.
"Very good," Xun Laoxian nodded, "At the Mid Foundation Stage, with a peak nineteen-line divine consciousness, and this divine consciousness has been honed through countless formations, making it incredibly profound and solid..."
Dugu Laozu's eyes narrowed.
He knew Mo Hua's divine consciousness was profound and had surpassed the ordinary.
But the fact that she could learn such intricate formations meant that she wasn't just talented and hardworking but also had a very proficient grasp of divine consciousness.
Moreover, her divine consciousness foundation was much deeper than he had imagined.
"Does this mean that she really could take a different path and learn the Divine Consciousness to Sword True Technique?"
Dugu Laozu's heart trembled, and a glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes.
Xun Laoxian wanted to say more but saw the expression on Dugu Laozu's face, especially the sharp glint in his eyes.
Xun Laoxian fell silent, his gaze becoming calm.
He looked at Dugu Laozu with a solemn expression:
"Brother, you wouldn't be thinking... to teach this child the Divine Consciousness to Sword, would you?"
Being from the same sect and with so many years of friendship, how could Xun Laoxian not know his elder brother's obsession and not see his thoughts?
Dugu Laozu remained silent.
What could he say?
He couldn't say that he had already taught her...
Xun Laoxian's face turned serious, "Brother, you mustn't forget that the Great Void Divine Consciousness to Sword True Technique has been listed as a forbidden technique by the sect. No one can teach it, and no disciple can learn it."
"Over the years, how many disciples have died, been injured, or been crippled because of this Divine Consciousness Sword Dao inheritance?"
"Brother, I know your obsession, and that this supreme sword technique has been buried in dust. Your heart is unwilling, but this sword technique really cannot be passed on anymore."
"Especially to Mo Hua..."
Xun Laoxian's expression turned incredibly serious, "Even if her divine consciousness is strong, and her divine consciousness talent is excellent, she cannot be taught the Divine Consciousness to Sword True Technique!"
"Her path is the path of an array master! This child is destined to become a master of formations, whose achievements will awe the Nine Provinces and reach the heavens!"
"This concerns the future of our Great Void Sect."
"If she gets curious and learns the Divine Consciousness to Sword, and her spirit sea is damaged or her divine soul injured, it would be a tremendous loss!"
"This seed cannot be allowed to have the slightest mistake!" Xun Laoxian said firmly.
Dugu Laozu said lightly, "Understood."
Xun Laoxian frowned, "Brother, do you really understand?"
Dugu Lao zu's eyebrow twitched, "Do I have to say it a second time?"
Xun Laoxian didn't bring it up again but pondered for a moment, feeling somewhat relieved.
His elder brother wasn't the type to act rashly.
Moreover, with his elder brother's pride and discerning eye, how could he possibly be thinking of teaching a little Foundation-stage disciple the Divine Consciousness Sword Technique without any reason, especially someone he hadn't even met?
He must have been overthinking...
Of course, it was also possible that he was just too worried about Mo Hua.
Xun Laoxian took the wine pot from in front of Dugu Laozu, "Alright, one sip is enough. I won't disturb your peace anymore."
"Go, go," Dugu Laozu waved his hand.
Xun Laoxian stood up to leave, but after a few steps, he frowned and turned to look at Dugu Laozu.
Dugu Laozu asked, "Is there anything else?"
Xun Laoxian shook his head, "No, just feeling... " He scrutinized Dugu Laozu for a moment and said, "Brother, you seem a bit different."
"Different?" Dugu Laozu paused.
"Yes," Xun Laoxian pondered and said, "More open-minded..."
And... a bit more "lively"?
He talked more than before and showed more emotions.
It was as if he had been "infected" by something, a vague and familiar sensation...
Dugu Laozu's face darkened, and he coldly said, "Is there anything else? If not, hurry up and leave. I need to meditate."
Xun Laoshi shook his head. "Then, Brother, take care of yourself."
With the three sects having just merged, there were many matters to attend to, and he indeed had little free time.
Xun Laoshi then left.
In the solemn and quiet Sword Tomb, Dugu Laozu sat alone.
After a moment, he furrowed his brow and muttered a name:
"Mo Hua..."
...
When the next seven days arrived,
Dugu Laozu tore through the void, bringing Mo Hua before him. As he transmitted sword techniques and tested his progress, his eyes, which resembled ancient mountains concealing swords, couldn't help but fixate on Mo Hua.
Mo Hua, feeling uncomfortable under the gaze, asked softly, "Old Ancestor, why are you staring at me?"
Dugu Laozu's expression remained indifferent. He hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately held back, only saying, "Focus on your sword training."
"Alright."
Mo Hua silently swung his bamboo sword, heading to the back mountain to chop at the wooden logs.
The logs on the back mountain, of unknown grade, were harder than stone. Each strike numbed his palms.
But Dugu Laozu said this was a necessary course for sword cultivation.
The key wasn't in chopping the wood, but in the process of chopping, developing a deep connection between man and sword, achieving oneness with the sword, so that when his divine consciousness manifested as a sword, a single thought would generate sword intent, merging the sword into his soul, allowing the sword to traverse the void, wielded like a divine tool, invincible.
Mo Hua found this very reasonable.
He had considered it. Though the sword techniques he practiced weren't powerful in reality and rarely used,
in the spirit sea, nightmares, and illusionary realms, when combined with his sword manifestation technique, they could prove highly effective.
Mo Hua knew his situation.
His sword techniques were poor. In the spirit sea, his use of the sword manifestation technique was purely due to the sharpness of his divine consciousness, swinging wildly.
Because his divine consciousness was so strong, even the basic sword manifestation technique could take down most malevolent spirits with a single strike.
But such techniques were too crude.
If he had the chance, he wanted to refine and enhance them, striving for greater skill.
In reality, it didn't matter much; his physical body was too weak to become a great sword cultivator.
But in the spirit sea, things were different. With his divine consciousness manifesting as a sword, the techniques he learned would be highly useful.
Thus, despite the fact that no matter how hard he chopped, he couldn't damage the logs on the back mountain, he still practiced earnestly.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
The grand path of the sword was hidden in these simple techniques.
Mo Hua's expression was focused and concentrated.
His sword techniques were indeed crude, incapable of harming anyone.
But each move was infused with his full attention.
Dugu Laozu silently watched Mo Hua, a faint sigh in his heart:
"His techniques are like rotten wood, but his sword heart is like a precious jade..."
"Add to that his mastery of formations and his transcendent divine consciousness..."
Dugu Laozu's gaze on Mo Hua intensified, his mind filled with thoughts...
...
Days passed one by one.
After the merger of the three sects, the Grand Void Sect underwent significant changes.
But for Mo Hua, it seemed as if nothing had changed.
He continued his regular practice, classes, learning formations and sword techniques, and teaching formations, still being called "Little Senior Brother" by a crowd of disciples.
Only, he now had more disciples.
And more disciples called him "Little Senior Brother."
Time flowed, and another month passed. After a month of cultivation, Mo Hua had confirmed one thing:
He definitely wouldn't break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage this year.
He hadn't even touched the bottleneck yet.
Mo Hua's heart, which had been in suspense, finally settled.
He could only take the back door.
Xun Laoshi also kept his promise and didn't have him repeat the year.
Though this decision broke the sect's rules, rules were meant to be broken, especially for Mo Hua.
The only formation master in the history of the Grand Void Sect.
Even if Mo Hua didn't bring it up, Xun Laoshi wouldn't let him repeat the year.
Another month passed, and it was time for the year-end evaluation.
Mo Hua, with his eyes closed, steadily scored a first-class sixth-candidate, and another year passed.
Then came the New Year.
During this New Year, Mo Hua received grand treatment.
The heads of the Shangguan, Wenren, and Gu families personally sent invitations, inviting Mo Hua to their New Year's feasts.
The invitations were handwritten by the three family heads and delivered to the Grand Void Sect by Wenren Wan.
Because of Mo Hua, Wenren Wan's status in the Grand Void Sect soared. All the elders treated her like a "bodhisattva of blessings," with great warmth and friendliness.
The Grand Void Sect even broke tradition, granting her the title of "Guest Elder."
Of course, it was just a title, with no real power or responsibilities.
But this was the Grand Void Sect after the merger, with its influence more than doubled.
This prestigious title was highly valuable.
Thus, Wenren Wan's access to the Grand Void Sect became much easier.
She handed the gilded and jade-embellished, exquisitely valuable invitation to Mo Hua, saying,
"Don't worry about it. Go if you have time, and if you're really busy, don't force yourself to attend.
"This year’s banquet is quite boring."
Although she came from the Wenren family, married into the Shangguan family, and had a deep relationship with the Gu family, Wenren Wan knew all too well that the world of the nobility was cold and materialistic, filled with intrigue and cutthroat competition. She didn’t want Mo Hua to be tainted by these things too early, nor did she want them to affect his cultivation and learning of array formations.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment and asked, "Will there be a lot of delicious food?"
Wenren Wan was taken aback, then smiled, "This is a joint banquet of three families, with a grander scale and more distinguished guests. There will be endless delicious food..."
Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, and he nodded, "Then I’ll go."
Wenren Wan smiled, "Good."
...
During the New Year, Mo Hua went to the Gu family to attend the banquet. Master Xun agreed to it as well. He didn’t want Mo Hua to expose himself too much and risk being manipulated. But the Gu family was different; they were part of the pure stream and had a deep relationship with Mo Hua. The Shangguan and Wenren families also had some connections with Mo Hua. Attending this banquet would be appropriate and would allow Mo Hua to experience the treatment befitting the array formation master who outshone countless talented disciples in Qianxue Province.
And the Gu family indeed treated Mo Hua with great hospitality. Previously, when Mo Hua came to eat, he would sit at a slightly peripheral table with Auntie Wan. Now, he still sat with Auntie Wan and Yu’er, but their seats were right next to the head of the Gu family. Even the usually stern and rigid family head, Gu Shouyan, would smile at Mo Hua and kindly ask what he wanted to eat. The heads of the Shangguan and Wenren families, Shangguan Ce and Wenren Jingxuan, also sat nearby, in seats slightly higher than Mo Hua’s. Whenever they had a moment, they would chat with Mo Hua, carefully choosing their topics. They would often steer the conversation towards array formations, then smoothly praise Mo Hua’s extraordinary talent and profound mastery, predicting his boundless future.
Being family heads and seasoned politicians, they knew exactly how to subtly “flatter” a young disciple, speaking with such skill and finesse. Their words were gentle and considerate, yet precise and revealing, maintaining their dignity while showing meticulous care. This made Mo Hua feel very pleased, and he even ate several more chicken legs.
Wenren Wan smiled warmly, and Yu’er was also very happy, mimicking Mo Hua by gnawing on a chicken leg. Now, no one dared to criticize him or say that Yu’er was learning “bad” habits—because he was learning from the champion of the array formation competition in Qianxue Province. As long as you were an absolute genius, everything you did was right.
Thus, the banquet went smoothly, with everyone enjoying themselves. However, there was one Shangguan family elder, clearly of high status, who had a very sour expression throughout the evening, his face as dark as the pig’s trotter on the table. Mo Hua quietly asked Wenren Wan the elder’s name: Shangguan Wang.
"Shangguan Wang..."
Mo Hua pondered for a moment and silently remembered the name.
...
After the banquet, Mo Hua was full again and, as usual, wandered around the Gu family’s backyard to digest his meal. As expected, many elders came up to him, offering gifts. They were not too valuable, but full of sincerity. Mo Hua, while saying, "How can I accept this?" eventually “couldn’t refuse their kindness” and accepted them all.
As he walked, Mo Hua thought of Gu Changhuai. He hadn’t seen Uncle Gu much during the banquet. Mo Hua decided to find the study and, sure enough, found Gu Changhuai sitting alone at his desk, still reading a jade slip.
Seeing Mo Hua, Gu Changhuai was a bit surprised, "You actually have time to wander around?"
The Gu family’s New Year banquet was essentially held for Mo Hua. The heads of the Shangguan and Wenren families also had ulterior motives, wanting to build a good relationship with Mo Hua early on.
Mo Hua, however, was casual, "I just came for the food."
His eyes glanced at the jade slip on Gu Changhuai’s desk, and he asked curiously, "Is the Dao Ting Si very busy lately?"
"Alright..." Gu Changhuai replied nonchalantly.
But Mo Hua didn’t believe him. From Gu Changhuai’s expression, it was clear he was hiding something. Moreover, if he was still busy during the banquet, it must be something important.
Mo Hua asked, "Is there a new case?"
Gu Changhuai didn’t want to say, intending to brush it off, but then he remembered that Mo Hua was no longer the same as before. Mo Hua already knew a lot, perhaps even more than he did. Given Mo Hua’s curious nature and habit of getting to the bottom of things...
Gu Changhuai felt a headache coming on. After a while, he sighed, looked around, closed the windows and doors, and sealed the array to ensure no secrets leaked. Then, with a serious expression, he said, "Another family extermination case, and this time, the action was faster and more decisive. The Dao Ting Si has found out that it was an organized action by the Demon Sect."
" Demon Sect?"
Mo Hua’s eyes narrowed.
(End of Chapter)
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