Chapter 901: The Command Token
Chapter 901: The Command Token
"Little Senior Brother! Little Senior Brother! Do you still want the command token?"
During lunch at the dining hall, the disciples were eating when Cheng Mo found Mo Hua and excitedly said, "I have a command token here!"
It was now common knowledge among the Great Void Sect disciples that their Little Senior Brother had a hobby of collecting command tokens.
"A letter scroll token?" Mo Hua asked.
"Yes," Cheng Mo nodded and then handed over a token with a carved demonic beast head, its fangs bared, and stained with blood.
Mo Hua was taken aback and asked, "Where did you get this token?"
Cheng Mo didn't hide anything and told Mo Hua everything that had happened: "A few days ago, during our weekly break, I, Si Tu, Hao Xuan, and Yang Dage accepted a mission to capture a wanted criminal."
"The reward wasn't difficult, and after completing it, we headed back to the sect. On the way, we encountered a group of sinful cultivators fighting with the Dao Prefecture Office."
"Did you help them?" Mo Hua asked.
"No," Cheng Mo honestly replied, "They outnumbered us, and we couldn't win. Moreover, Little Senior Brother, you taught us to avoid tasks with low rewards and high risks as much as possible."
Mo Hua was stunned, "Did I say that?"
Cheng Mo affirmed, "You did."
"Oh," Mo Hua nodded, "If you said so, then it must be true."
"Then what happened?"
Cheng Mo continued, "After that, the group of sinful cultivators was defeated. Some were captured by the Dao Prefecture Office, but three of them escaped."
"Did you chase after them?"
"Yes," Cheng Mo nodded, "The five of us, following your example, Little Senior Brother, wore concealing cloaks and quietly tailed them."
Mo Hua: "..."
"Then what happened?" Mo Hua asked again.
Cheng Mo replied, "We followed them to a remote village. They entered an old courtyard and locked the door."
"Following your teachings, Little Senior Brother, we broke through the outer formation and entered the courtyard..."
"From the outside, the courtyard didn't seem unusual, but when we searched, we found that the soil beneath the ground was deep red, soaked with an unknown amount of blood. That's when we realized that these sinful cultivators were not ordinary; they might have cultivated evil arts."
"Deep red blood..." Mo Hua seemed to understand, and then said, "What did you do next?"
Cheng Mo said, "Following your rules, Little Senior Brother, since the situation inside the house was unclear and the enemies were gathered, we naturally set up a formation and blew them up."
Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction.
"But something unexpected happened," Cheng Mo added.
Mo Hua took a bite of his chicken leg and listened to him continue.
Cheng Mo's expression was a bit strange, "We had just finished setting up the formation and were about to activate it when something strange happened inside the house. The three evil cultivators started 'gnawing' at each other?"
"Gnawing?" Mo Hua was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "What kind of gnawing?"
Cheng Mo made a face as if he couldn't bear to describe it, "They were gnawing at each other's necks, biting through flesh and skin, like beasts, sucking each other's blood..."
Sucking blood...
Mo Hua's expression suddenly became clear, and he now had a good idea of what was going on.
This group of evil cultivators was probably the demonic sect that sucked blood, as mentioned by the 'disciple' in the broadcast.
Cheng Mo continued, "The three evil cultivators were gnawing at each other, covered in blood, and we waited for them to finish. When two were severely injured and one was defeated, we detonated the formation, turning them into two dead and one severely injured..."
"After that, the five of us took action together, and without any effort, we captured the last one unharmed!"
Cheng Mo looked proud.
"Well done," Mo Hua praised and nodded.
His little junior brothers were becoming more and more reliable in their actions, not letting down his 'cultivation' of them as their Little Senior Brother.
Cheng Mo added, "It's just a pity that these evil cultivators were so poor. We searched them thoroughly, but there was nothing valuable on their bodies. After searching, the only thing that caught our eye was this command token."
"We handed the person over to the Dao Prefecture Office, but I secretly kept this command token and brought it to you, Little Senior Brother."
Mo Hua looked at the bloodstained token and asked, "This token has an eerie design. When you entered the mountain, didn't the elder confiscate it?"
Cheng Mo nodded, "Yes, but I said it was yours, Little Senior Brother. Elder Song hesitated for a moment and then agreed."
Currently, within the Great Void Sect, Mo Hua's reputation was even more influential than that of an ordinary elder.
After all, without his sudden rise as the 'First in Formation Dao', it was uncertain if the Great Void Sect could even be considered one of the eight great sects.
With the merging of the three sects, the Great Void Sect's position as the leading sect was, to some extent, due to Mo Hua's influence.
Everyone in the Great Void Sect was aware of this.
"But we still need to follow the rules," Cheng Mo said, "Elder Song asked you to go to him and register when you have time."
The sect needed to keep a record of who possessed such an eerie command token.
Mo Hua couldn't escape this rule either.
Of course, Mo Hua was not one to break the rules; he would follow them diligently.
"I understand," Mo Hua nodded and then transferred two hundred merit points to Cheng Mo, "You've worked hard. Share this with Si Tu and the others."
Cheng Mo quickly declined, "I couldn't possibly accept."
"Even brothers should keep a clear account. Since you gave us the command token, I can't take it without giving something in return." Mo Hua said.
Of course, he had already reached the 'cap' for merit points, with more than he could use, so it was natural to share some benefits with these junior brothers.
Cheng Mo didn't hesitate and smiled, "Thank you, Little Senior Brother! Then I'll accept it."
He might be polite with other things, but merit points were different.
Unlike the 'big spender' Mo Hua, these disciples had limited merit points.
Especially now that they had reached the late Foundation Establishment Stage, they were at the final stage of their second-rank cultivation method, and they still needed to forge their life-bound magical treasures and prepare for the Golden Core.
Merit points were being spent like flowing water.
The merit points Mo Hua gave them, though not a large amount, still made them feel much better.
"By the way, Little Senior Brother..." Cheng Mo asked in a low voice, "When will you advance to the late Foundation Establishment Stage?"
A group of 'little junior brothers' around them also looked at Mo Hua with eager eyes.
Mo Hua sighed.
He wanted to as well...
But he was stuck at a bottleneck, and these junior brothers didn't understand the struggles of cultivating the Heavenly Transformation Art.
Mo Hua waved his hand. "Let's eat."
"Oh..." The group obediently bowed their heads and began to eat.
...
After lunch, Mo Hua made a trip to the mountain gate and found Elder Song. He handed over the token, which was stained with blood, engraved with demonic patterns, and had vicious fangs. It was clearly the token of an evil demonic cultivator. Elder Song recorded it as evidence.
Elder Song was not harsh towards Mo Hua; instead, he was very kind and amiable.
Previously, when Mo Hua asked for leave, Elder Song had some complaints, but now, even if Mo Hua was absent from class, Elder Song would probably praise him for being "unconstrained by form," having his own methods in cultivation, and not following the crowd...
Mo Hua had always been respectful, and others respected him in return.
Elder Song was even happier, and after Mo Hua left, he turned to the elders beside him and said, "Not arrogant or discouraged, not proud or ungrateful, respectful to teachers and elders, polite and well-mannered, this young man will surely achieve greatness in the future..."
The elders beside him nodded in agreement.
However, one familiar elder teased him, "Elder Song, you didn't say that before. I remember a few years ago, you said that this child, relying on the support of Old Mr. Xun, often took leave, was mischievous and naughty, and was a troublemaker who would never amount to anything."
Elder Song's face turned stiff, and he made a clear distinction, "That was the past me, it has nothing to do with the present me."
Everyone chuckled at his words.
...
After registering the demonic token with Elder Song, Mo Hua returned to his disciple's residence, intending to disassemble it as per the usual practice to restore the text within.
Initially, Mo Hua was just going through the motions, not paying much attention.
But as he skillfully opened the cover of the token, his expression changed.
Beneath the demonic patterns, a complex Primordial Magnetic Array was constructed using a white bone framework, along with an unfamiliar token structure that Mo Hua had never seen before.
"This... isn't a Letter Scroll?"
Mo Hua was stunned for a moment, and then his pupils suddenly contracted.
"This... is a Sect Token?!"
Mo Hua gasped in surprise.
A Sect Token...
If his guess was correct, those few evil cultivators who were devouring each other and feeding on fresh blood were branch disciples of the Demon Sect that the Dao Prefecture Office was currently suppressing.
This meant that this Sect Token was from the Demon Sect?
The small token that Cheng Mo's junior disciples had picked up for him was a genuine Demon Sect Token?
Mo Hua was shocked, finding it hard to believe at first.
Then, he couldn't help but feel delighted.
A Demon Sect Token!
This was indeed a rare opportunity that came once in a thousand years.
Every sect's most symbolic and important token was its Sect Token.
In the Qianxue State, things were a bit better, as the sects here were primarily focused on teaching and imparting the Dao, and the rules were not overly strict.
But Mo Hua had heard that many other types of sects, such as hidden sects, family sects, spirit merchant sects, industrial sects, and lawless sects, had extremely strict rules regarding the possession of Sect Tokens.
Some sects could truly be described as "Token Exists, Person Exists; Token Lost, Person Lost."
If a sect disciple lost their Sect Token, it was equivalent to losing their identity as a sect disciple, and they would be severely punished by the sect.
In extreme cases, their cultivation might even be abolished, and they would be expelled from the sect.
Not to mention the token of the Demon Sect.
If a Demon Sect Token was lost, the disciple holding it would probably face a difficult death.
This Sect Token held great significance.
Mo Hua's heart raced, and he began to carefully disassemble the Demon Sect Token...
This Demon Sect Token was somewhat similar to the Void Token.
The token integrated some functions of Primordial Magnetic Message Transmission, and from the surface, it indeed resembled an ordinary Letter Scroll.
But besides the "message transmission" function, it undoubtedly contained an entire system for maintaining the sect's organization, hierarchy, communication, and possibly even a task assignment and reward system similar to the Great Void Sect's Merit Ledger.
The token was small but encompassed everything.
In terms of rank, this Demon Sect Token was undoubtedly inferior to the Void Token.
However, in terms of structure, this Demon Sect Token was more complex than the Void Token.
The Void Token was too advanced.
Its internal Primordial Magnetic Array system was likely a Fifth-Rank Formation, and there was a high possibility that it was based on a large Primordial Magnetic Array.
The core part was either constructed deep within the Great Void Mountain or sealed within the Void Token itself.
What Mo Hua could see of the Void Token was merely its surface.
And this Demon Sect Token, although constructed at a lower level than the Void Token, appeared more complex due to its inability to seal its internal Formation.
Mo Hua proceeded with caution, disassembling the structure of the Demon Sect Token, separating the fixed and variable magnetic patterns, and began to analyze the fixed magnetic patterns.
However, after studying for a while, he found it difficult to comprehend.
The structure was even more intricate, the variable magnetic patterns were more changeable, and a large portion of the fixed magnetic patterns were incomprehensible to him.
The biggest problem was that he couldn't understand the core principle of the Sect Token, and he couldn't distinguish the fundamental difference between a "Sect Token" and a "Letter Scroll."
As a result, he couldn't figure out how to analyze the functional structure of the Sect Token.
Mo Hua felt a long-forgotten sensation of inadequacy in his formation skills.
Learning is endless.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment and decided to ask for help.
If he didn't know, he would learn, and if he didn't understand, he would ask.
Even though he was currently the top in Qianxue Formation Studies and the leader in Formation Dao, it didn't mean he knew everything.
Formations were vast and profound, and he still had a long way to go.
As for whom to consult, Mo Hua already had someone in mind.
He took the opportunity to find Zheng Fang and asked him to inquire if Elder Zheng had any free time soon, as he wanted to pay him a visit.
Elder Zheng soon replied that he was available.
A few days later, in the private room of a teahouse in Celestial Void City.
Mo Hua and Elder Zheng sat down for a cup of tea.
After some small talk, Mo Hua got straight to the point and asked about the Sect Token.
Elder Zheng was a bit surprised.
This was no longer a matter of going beyond the curriculum.
Elder Zheng's expression turned solemn as he said, "Let me remind you, the Sect Token contains the sect's secrets. If you disassemble someone else's Sect Token and are discovered, you might be hunted down to the ends of the earth, and they won't rest until you're dead..."
Mo Hua's expression froze. "Is it that serious just to disassemble it?"
Zheng Laozhong said, "Normally, dismantling it would be considered damaging the sect token, but... Was what you did a simple 'dismantling'?"
Zheng Laozhong looked at Mo Hua, his eyebrows slightly raised.
Mo Hua gave an awkward smile but said nothing.
Zheng Laozhong pondered for a moment before asking, "Did Mr. Xun teach you about this?"
Mo Hua shook his head.
Mr. Xun had only taught him some basic Primordial Magnetic Arrays, and not too deeply at that.
Moreover, Mo Hua guessed that Mr. Xun wouldn't teach him this, so he had come directly to seek guidance from Zheng Laozhong.
Zheng Laozhong thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Indeed, this is a bit beyond the curriculum. It's understandable that Mr. Xun didn't teach it, and it's likely not his expertise in Formation Dao either..."
Mo Hua was puzzled, "Mr. Xun is a Fifth Rank Array Master, isn't he proficient in Primordial Magnetic Arrays?"
Zheng Laozhong shook his head, "Specialization is key. Formations are vast and profound, and even the most accomplished Array Masters can't master them all."
"Moreover, the sect token involves more complex and unique array principles, making it extremely significant."
"This issue is more serious than you think. Mr. Xun probably avoided teaching it to prevent you from getting into trouble."
Mo Hua nodded, somewhat understanding.
Zheng Laozhong looked at Mo Hua intently, then snapped his fingers, sending out several formation flags that he set up around them. Lowering his voice, he said to Mo Hua, "If you want to learn this formation, I can teach you, but you must consider it carefully. Once you learn it, you must never tell anyone, and you must ensure that no one finds out."
"Otherwise, if this matter is leaked, you might very well be placed on the forbidden 'blacklist' by most sects. Wherever you go, people will be on guard against you. Unscrupulous individuals will keep you in their sights, and some will even wish to kill you without hesitation..."
Mo Hua's heart trembled, and his expression became solemn.
"Do you still want to learn it?" Zheng Laozhong confirmed.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then nodded seriously, "I want to learn."
The more forbidden and secretive a technique, the more powerful it is likely to be.
Moreover, he had many secret techniques that couldn't be revealed, and one or two more wouldn't make a difference.
Zheng Laozhong nodded, "Good."
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then suddenly realized a problem, "Senior Zheng, you said that learning this formation means keeping it secret. But you've learned it too, aren't you afraid of others finding out?"
Zheng Laozhong's expression remained calm, "Others won't know."
Mo Hua was taken aback.
Zheng Laozhong continued, "In this world, the number of people who know I've mastered Thunder-Magnetic Formations can be counted on one hand."
Mo Hua was shocked.
He hadn't expected that Zheng Laozhong, with his bushy eyebrows and large eyes, could keep such a deep secret.
Mo Hua hesitated, "Are you sure about telling me such a confidential matter?"
Zheng Laozhong nodded, "Trust those who are trustworthy, and be wary of those who are not. Since I've told you, I have my reasons."
Mo Hua felt a sense of trust and was even touched.
"Rest assured, I won't tell anyone," Mo Hua assured Zheng Laozhong.
Seeing this, Zheng Laozhong nodded, "As long as you understand. I'll teach you the fundamental principles of the sect token now. You can study it, but until you reach the Golden Core stage, don't waste too much effort on it."
Zheng Laozhong paused, took a sip of tea, organized his thoughts, and began his explanation:
"My Zheng family has inherited the ancient Thunder Array and studies the Path of Eight Trigram Thunder Law."
"This 'Thunder' is truly profound, connecting heaven and earth. After many years of studying the Thunder Dao, my Zheng family has identified two main branches: Thunder and Thunder-Magnetic."
"Above the nine heavens, thunderbolts are born, possessing limitless power and capable of destroying heaven and earth."
"Between heaven and earth, Thunder-Magnetic permeates everywhere, leaving no trace, yet it can transmit messages and sounds over vast distances."
"Most people only know that my Zheng family studies the 'Thunder' path."
"But this Thunder Dao is extremely rigid and positive, with heavy emphasis on killing. Those who cultivate it must have a fearless Dao heart, be upright and unyielding, and only a select few can cultivate it. Even then, using it is not to be taken lightly."
"In reality, the livelihood of most array masters in my Zheng family lies in 'Thunder-Magnetic Arrays'."
"Thunder-Magnetic Arrays are also a derivative of the Thunder Dao, with wide applications, and most Zheng family disciples can learn them..."
Mo Hua nodded.
Zheng Fang had once challenged Mo Hua's position as the junior brother, using a basic, inherited Thunder-Magnetic Array to test him.
"However," Zheng Laozhong's eyes darkened, "most cultivators in this world, including most array masters, have a misunderstanding about Thunder-Magnetic Arrays."
"Different fields are like different mountains, and this is especially true in the world of formations. Even a difference in array categories can be like a mountain range..."
"The basic Five Elements Eight Trigrams are still manageable, as they have commonalities. But the unusual Eight Trigrams, such as the Heaven, Earth, and Thunder Arrays, are very profound and difficult to understand without dedicated study."
"As for the others, like the Yin-Yang, Three Talents, Four Symbols, and Seven Stars Arrays, they are even more complex."
"All array masters are called such, but the differences between them are vast, with knowledge barriers as high as those between humans and dogs."
"This is especially true for the Eight Trigram Thunder Array series, particularly the Thunder-Magnetic Arrays."
"Ordinary array masters who are not proficient in this path often confuse Primordial Magnetism with Thunder-Magnetic, but they don't understand that these are fundamentally two different frameworks."
"'Primordial Magnetism' is, at most, an application-level concept, while 'Thunder-Magnetic' refers to the true, secret array principles that cannot be revealed..."
Mo Hua listened intently, his eyes shining with focus.
Zheng Laozhong taught with utmost seriousness.
At this moment, Zheng Laozhong hadn't yet realized that he was opening a door for Mo Hua, one that would lead to perceiving the heavens and earth, controlling Thunder-Magnetic, and understanding the source of all things.
(End of Chapter)
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