https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-933-The-Valley-Master-of-Hundred-Flowers/12938524/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-935-White-Wood-as-Skin-Gold-and-Jade-as-Bones/12938526/
Chapter 934: Noble Young Master
Chapter 934: Noble Young Master
This was a young noble, dressed in fine attire, with a face as beautiful as jade.
His fair and handsome features exuded a natural aura of nobility.
His appearance was unfamiliar to Mo Hua, who was seeing him for the first time, yet there was a strange sense of familiarity, as if they had a prior connection that had tangled their fates long ago.
Mo Hua’s thoughts churned as he looked at the young noble.
The young noble, in turn, gazed at Mo Hua, his expression flickering with surprise for a moment. After a brief pause, he raised an eyebrow and said coolly, "You are... Mo Hua?"
Mo Hua’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm, "Do you know me?"
"Qianxue State, Array Dao Supreme..." The young noble’s tone was a mix of recognition and casual indifference. "Juncai Cousin lost to you, and he told me that your formations are quite remarkable."
Mo Hua replied mildly, "You flatter me."
He looked at the young noble again and asked, "May I ask, what is your name, Noble Young Master?"
The young noble’s lips curled into a cold smile, tinged with displeasure.
It seemed that he was always the one being approached with reverence, and no one had ever dared to ask him his name, especially not to his face.
He looked at Mo Hua with arrogance, unwilling to acknowledge him, but for some reason, he sensed something different about Mo Hua, leading him to make an exception.
The young noble said coldly, "Qian Dao Sect, Shen Linshu."
Qian Dao Sect, Shen Linshu, Shen...
Mo Hua’s pupils dilated slightly.
The handsome young noble before him was actually a disciple of the Shen Family of the Qian Dao Sect?
Mo Hua glanced at the young noble’s entourage.
Behind him were six cultivators.
Three of them were at the Late Foundation Establishment stage, with elegant and handsome appearances, clearly scions of the upper echelons of the Qianxue State.
Two were middle-aged, with profound cultivation, Golden Core cultivators.
The last was an old man, whose aura was unfathomable.
Though Mo Hua couldn’t discern the old man’s true strength, his experience with many high-ranking cultivators allowed him to guess that the old man was likely a Transcendent Sage of the Ascension Realm.
Shen Linshu was accompanied by three scions of upper-class families as attendants, two Golden Core cultivators as guards, and a Transcendent Sage as a companion.
In the Shen Family, and even in the Qian Dao Sect, such a configuration was rare, making him a Heaven-Exalted figure.
Shen "Lin"shu... a fitting name.
Mo Hua’s thoughts swirled, but his expression remained calm.
Shen Linshu glanced at Mo Hua again and, as if compelled by an unseen force, said, "On the seventh day after the New Year, I will be hosting a Dao Discussion Tea Gathering. Will you come?"
Upon hearing this, the three disciples behind Shen Linshu all changed expressions.
The two Golden Core guards looked surprised.
The Transcendent Sage also turned his deep gaze toward Mo Hua.
Tea Gathering?
It was unlikely to be a simple gathering.
Mo Hua shook his head, "We’re not that close."
Shen Linshu’s eyelids twitched, "I rarely invite people personally."
"Oh..." Mo Hua said indifferently.
Shen Linshu’s face turned stern, his gaze cold, and he sneered, "I’m giving you an opportunity, but you’re not up to it." He flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
The three scions of upper-class families hurriedly followed, casting jealous and mocking glances at Mo Hua as they passed.
The two Golden Core cultivators and the Transcendent Sage also silently trailed behind Shen Linshu.
The group disappeared into the crowd.
Seeing them go, Mo Hua let out a long breath, his palms sweating. He didn’t linger, quickening his pace to reach the entrance of Qingzhou City, where he boarded the Gu Family’s carriage and rushed back to the sect without delay.
The lights of Qingzhou City grew distant.
The carriage left the bustling city and entered the deep night.
Sitting in the carriage, Mo Hua couldn’t help but reflect, "The premonition just now wasn’t an illusion; the ‘Poppy’-like chain of causality was exactly the same as when I was on the Crimson Boat."
"This Shen Linshu must be connected to the Crimson Boat."
"Could this Shen Linshu be the ‘Noble Young Master’ everyone revered on the Crimson Boat?"
"During the Ten Thousand Demon Nightmare in the Demon Valley, was the Noble Young Master I pursued also him?"
"Is he the mastermind? Or at least, the highest-ranking and most powerful ‘Noble Young Master’ in the events of the Crimson Boat and the Demon Valley?"
Mo Hua’s expression grew serious.
The twists of fate were truly unpredictable.
He never expected to encounter the Shen Family’s “Noble Young Master” so unexpectedly.
The Shen Family...
Was Mr. Tu backed by the Shen Family? By the Qian Dao Sect?
This seemed reasonable, and Mo Hua could conveniently consolidate his suspicions.
But he had no evidence, and he couldn’t prove his speculations for now.
Shen Linshu’s status was indeed noble, but was he really the Noble Young Master of the Noble Pavilion? Was he truly the one behind the Crimson Boat, the Demon Valley, and Mr. Tu?
There was no evidence for any of this.
Moreover...
"Does he really know who I am?"
Mo Hua frowned, "He knows my name is Mo Hua, that I’m a disciple of the Great Void Sect and the Array Dao Supreme of Qianxue State, but he shouldn’t know my true identity..."
"Otherwise, he would have killed me on the spot, rather than inviting me to a Dao Discussion Tea Gathering."
"This tea gathering is probably not a simple affair. Who knows what he has in mind..."
"Can I kill him? Probably not..."
"Besides, he has Golden Core attendants and a Transcendent Sage protecting him. I can’t afford to provoke him and should stay far away, returning to the sect as soon as possible..."
The carriage sped along, the scenery outside blending into the darkness.
Mo Hua stared out the window, his thoughts in disarray, yet he had a vague sense that key figures were gradually surfacing...
...
As Mo Hua passed through the southern gate of Qingzhou City and left, the group led by "Shen Linshu" headed for the northern gate, boarding a carriage that was plain on the outside but luxuriously decorated inside, heading in the opposite direction.
Inside the carriage, Shen Linshu, with a face as beautiful as jade, lay on a soft exotic beast skin, tapping his fingers on the table, his expression grim.
The atmosphere in the carriage was oppressive.
Everyone could guess why the Noble Young Master was upset.
One of the scions of an upper-class family tried to console him, "Young Master Linshu, this person lacks the discernment to recognize a great opportunity when it’s presented to him. He simply can’t see it."
"Array Masters bury themselves in their studies and are oblivious to the ways of the world."
"When you study arrays too much, your brain turns stupid. You don't know how to scheme and curry favor, so for your entire life, you can only sell your life for others."
"Indeed, such a person who doesn't know how to appreciate a good opportunity is not worthy of the Young Master's attention."
"I understand." Shen Linshu replied indifferently, but his expression turned even uglier.
Since childhood, he had never been this polite to his peers.
Today, he had met this person called "Mo Hua," who inexplicably invited him to attend the tea gathering at the Noble Pavilion.
He didn't even know why he did it himself.
The "Noble Pavilion" not only implied the word "Noble," but it also considered one's cultivation talent, family background, and bloodline. Lacking any one of these was unacceptable.
This Mo Hua, even though he was the Array Debating Champion, had a family background, spirit root, and bloodline that were too lowly. Wanting to enter the Noble Pavilion and socialize with them was far from being qualified.
Especially when it came to family background and bloodline, you either had it or you didn't.
It was like a heavenly moat, separating those of lowly birth and without power or influence from the core circle.
Mo Hua didn't realize that the invitation he had extended was of utmost nobility.
This was the true ladder to the heavens in the cultivation world.
It was the true path of the nobility.
The people within the Noble Pavilion were those he would never have the chance to interact with in his lifetime. Even if he just sat and had a cup of tea with them, he should feel extremely honored.
But Mo Hua had rejected the invitation.
Whether it was being "blind to treasures" or "ungrateful," it felt like a thorn in his heart, making him extremely displeased.
Moreover, he felt a familiar sensation from Mo Hua.
Shen Linshu furrowed his brows.
Seeing that Shen Linshu was still bothered, another clan heir smiled and said in a low voice, "Young Master Shen, don't mind it. Those of low birth often have blind eyes, and even with opportunities right in front of them, they can't grasp them. It's precisely because of this that they remain lowly."
"Regardless of whether he's truly 'blind to treasures,' he shouldn't have disrespected the Young Master. Disrespecting the Young Master is the same as disrespecting the Noble Pavilion. If everyone follows his example, how can we establish our authority?"
"How about..." The clan heir's eyes flashed, "We capture him, gouge out his eyes, sever his limbs, and throw him into the Smoky Water River to feed the clam demons."
The others laughed in agreement, "Not bad, that's a good idea."
"Since he's blind to treasures, there's no use keeping these eyes."
The two Golden Core guards remained silent, acting as if they hadn't heard anything.
The only Ethereal Transformation elder frowned.
He knew that these young masters could do anything.
They were born into too good of a family, and from a young age, they had everything they wanted. Countless people would flatter and please them, and among these people, there were even some Registrars and Directors from the Dao Imperial Court. This led to these young masters having no concept of "rules" in their eyes.
No matter what happened, their families would clean up after them.
They might even find joy in causing trouble, not understanding the meaning of fear.
But this "Mo Hua" was truly untouchable...
He was the Array Debating Champion of the Great Void Sect, and behind him stood Elder Xun.
Even though he was of humble origins, he wasn't someone who could be easily manipulated.
Causing trouble for him would lead to significant trouble.
But this matter couldn't be openly discussed.
Once it provoked the rebellious nature of these young masters, and their hot-bloodedness surged, they might really go overboard and kill Mo Hua.
That would create an irreconcilable grudge.
The Ethereal Transformation elder pondered for a moment and said, "The path of arrays is, in the end, just a clever skill. No matter how well you learn it, you can only serve the clans. Learning the arts of literature and martial skills, you sell them to the noble families. With a lowly birth, no matter how hard you study, you can't escape this fate."
"This 'Mo Hua' is the same. No matter how good his arrays are, at most, he's just a superior beast of burden. The Young Master doesn't need to pay him any mind, lest he loses his own dignity."
Shen Linshu was taken aback and nodded slightly.
The other clan heirs, though not entirely pleased, didn't deny it in front of the Ethereal Transformation sage.
Seeing this, the Ethereal Transformation elder continued, "Moreover, the next Sword Debating Tournament is approaching. The Sword Debating Tournament is the real important event. Before that, it's not appropriate to be distracted by other matters and create unnecessary complications."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the clan heirs became much more serious.
One of them agreed, "You're right. The Sword Debating Tournament is crucial. We can only participate in it once every nine years in our sect. It can even be said that a sect disciple can only participate in it once in their lifetime."
Another clan heir flattered, "Young Master Shen, with your clan background and talent, if you add the prestige of being the first in the Sword Debating Tournament, you can soar straight to the Heavenly Son. In the future, your path to immortal cultivation will be smooth and unobstructed."
"That's right. The ranking is everything. As long as we get first place, our old ancestor will grant us whatever we want. In the future, we can do whatever we desire, and no one will dare to stop us."
"The cultivation world values strength above all."
"Geniuses, as long as they are talented enough, can do no wrong."
"If I can get first place, I can even enter the Dao Imperial Court and kill a Registrar. Our old ancestor will probably protect me."
"Nonsense, I don't believe it."
"I'll show you when the time comes. Let's bet on whether the old ancestor will protect me. If I am protected, you'll have to marry off your betrothed Dao companion to me for a night."
"Go to your mother."
"Don't you believe me?"
"I don't doubt that the old ancestor will protect you, I just don't believe you can get first place. With your capabilities, do you dare to claim the top spot in the Sword Debating Tournament?"
"You coward, how dare you talk about me? I might not be a match for Young Master Shen, but I'm certainly better than you. By the way, have you decided... Your betrothed Dao companion is from the Ming family, right? I've been eyeing her for a long time..."
"Get lost, I wouldn't dare touch her."
"It's just for fun, what's there to be afraid of..."
...
These clan heirs became more and more outrageous in their words.
However, the two Golden Core cultivators beside them remained silent, and even the Ethereal Transformation elder acted as if he hadn't seen or heard anything.
For their kind of task, the most important thing was to hear nothing and say nothing, so as to avoid making any mistakes.
The young masters before them were the true "little ancestors," and they couldn't afford to offend them.
If they truly angered them, and these young masters harbored resentment, they might complain to their parents, elders, or even their old ancestors.
Even if these people were Golden Core cultivators or Ethereal Transformation sages, they couldn't afford to offend them.
This was the power of influence.
And this power, it relies on the immense strength of the Great Clans.
Several Great Clan disciples were arguing, and suddenly, someone asked:
"Shen Linshu, why are we going to Lonely Mountain City? Isn't that going in a big circle? I'm afraid I won't make it in time for my family's ancestral worship."
Shen Linshu didn't reply.
Someone said, "The Young Master has instructed us, and we just need to follow his orders. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"
"You..."
Shen Linshu ignored their dispute.
He looked out at the dark night sky outside the window, deep in thought, and after a moment, that familiar feeling returned. Shen Linshu couldn't help but think of Mo Hua again.
He thought of Mo Hua's clear eyes and his pure and serene face.
"Was this really the first time I met him? Why does it feel so familiar? Even..."
Would I feel apprehensive?
Shen Linshu's gaze turned slightly cold, and he muttered to himself:
"This Mo Hua... who is he really?"
...
Great Void Sect.
Back at the sect, Mo Hua temporarily settled down.
In the following days, he took the time to investigate this "Shen Linshu," but he didn't find much information. He only vaguely knew that these people, even among the Great Clans, were truly "High-ranking Clan Disciples." They were from a completely different world compared to ordinary disciples, especially someone like Mo Hua.
Mo Hua sighed.
Cultivation barriers, monopolized inheritances, bloodline isolation...
The more he looked into these barriers and obstacles, the deeper and higher they seemed.
Of course, Mo Hua could only sigh about it; there was nothing he could do about it.
After that, he continued to diligently cultivate and attend classes.
The new year of the sect had begun, and everything quickly returned to normal.
This was Mo Hua's eighth year in the Great Void Sect, and it was also the second-to-last year of the nine-year teaching period.
The following year would be the Dao Discussion Tea Gathering.
In Qianxue State, a disciple could only participate in the Dao Discussion Tea Gathering once in their entire life. Therefore, this opportunity to debate the Dao was extremely precious.
Mo Hua had participated in the previous Dao Discussion Tea Gathering as an exception, through a backdoor connection.
Accordingly, the next Dao Discussion Tea Gathering should have been his turn.
And now, there was only a little more than a year left for this year's Dao Discussion Tea Gathering.
Mo Hua felt that time was passing by so quickly. He had experienced so many things, yet it seemed like the day he entered the sect was just yesterday. In the blink of an eye, nine years had passed, and he was about to graduate.
Mo Hua couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency, but he couldn't quite explain why.
...
Great Void Sect, Grandmaster's Residence.
The tall tower stood amidst swirling clouds.
Old Mr. Xun and the Grandmaster of Great Void Sect were drinking tea and discussing matters.
"The next Dao Discussion Tea Gathering is approaching fast, with less than two years left..." The Grandmaster of Great Void Sect sighed.
Old Mr. Xun silently drank his tea without speaking.
After hesitating for a moment, the Grandmaster of Great Void Sect couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, so he asked, "Old Sir, what do you think? What rank will our Great Void Sect achieve this time?"
Old Mr. Xun replied indifferently, "Asking me is useless. I can't predict the future."
"Don't you know how to deduce cause and effect?"
"That's called deduction, not predicting the future. In the cultivation world, those who can truly predict the future are few and far between. Moreover, even if you can deduce cause and effect, others can too. Trying to gain an advantage in this aspect is futile."
The Grandmaster of Great Void Sect felt a bit regretful, then frowned and said, "Logically speaking, after the merger of the three sects, the strength of my Great Void Sect should have improved. With Mo Hua supporting us in formations, even if we don't advance further, maintaining our rank shouldn't be a problem, but..."
The Grandmaster of Great Void Sect eyes full of worry, sighed, "I can't shake off this feeling of anxiety. It's as if something major will happen at this Dao Discussion Tea Gathering."
Upon hearing this, Old Mr. Xun's eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment, he poured himself a cup of tea and said, "Do what you can and leave the rest to fate. If something is meant to happen, there's no avoiding it."
The Grandmaster of Great Void Sect remained silent.
Old Mr. Xun took a sip of tea and glanced at him, "Instead of worrying, why not put more effort into nurturing some talented disciples so they can achieve a good rank at the Sword Debating Tournament?"
"To forge iron, one must be strong. If the disciples of Great Void Sect are strong enough, how can there be a reason to not maintain our rank?"
After a moment of contemplation, the Grandmaster of Great Void Sect nodded, "You're right, Old Sir. I'll select more disciples and focus on nurturing them."
But in his heart, he felt helpless.
Although he said this, they were in Qianxue State, where geniuses were countless.
Great Void Sect was already at a disadvantage in terms of disciple recruitment, and no matter how they selected, their strength was limited.
Moreover, with the merger of the three sects, there were more people, and the requirements had become higher.
If it were the previous Great Void Sect, maintaining the eighth rank would have been a blessing.
But now, Great Void Sect must at least maintain its rank; otherwise, without a sufficient share of the Qianlong Spirit Mine, they couldn't support such a large sect.
The sect required a massive amount of spirit stones.
The current merger of the three sects was, to some extent, consuming their reserves.
If they didn't achieve a good rank and secure a larger share of the Qianlong Spirit Mine, obtaining more spirit stones, they would eventually run out of resources.
When that time came, if the supply of spirit stones was insufficient and they couldn't manage their finances, the sect would face financial difficulties. Great Void Sect would truly become a "hollow shell" with a big appetite but insufficient resources, and its decline would be inevitable.
"Running a sect is like burning spirit stones..."
The Grandmaster of Great Void Sect sighed in his heart.
Therefore, the rank at the Sword Debating Tournament became extremely important.
He began to mentally select candidates for the tournament:
"Linghu Xiao of Chongxu Sect, a once-in-five-hundred-years sword genius. Originally Chongxu Sect's treasure, now he's become our Great Void Sect's treasure... No, we're all Great Void Sect now, so there's no question of who benefits whom..."
"Ta Ao Sect, the Ouyang Family also has a few disciples with well-cultivated sword arts..."
"My Great Void Sect, although we don't have any particularly outstanding disciples, with Mo Hua, this 'Junior Senior Brother,' leading us, the unity among fellow disciples is strong, and our cooperation is more harmonious..."
The Grandmaster of Great Void Sect muttered, and suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he curiously asked, "Old Sir, what do you think? Is Mo Hua suitable for the Sword Debating Tournament?"
When it came to Mo Hua, Old Mr. Xun also became serious.
He frowned and thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head, "Not really suitable... This child's abilities are both strengths and weaknesses. It would be too challenging for him to participate in the tournament, and he would be too easily targeted..."
(End of Chapter)
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