Chapter 940: A Glimpse
Chapter 940: A Glimpse
There was no need to mention the Shen Family, a top-notch clan in Qianxue State, one of the four great sects passed down through generations. They were truly formidable, and as an ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivator, he wasn't much stronger than an ant in front of the Shen Family.
As for Mo Hua, the Supreme Array Dao Master of Void Gate Sect, even a true-disciple elder in the late Golden Core stage would serve him tea, indicating his identity was deeply mysterious.
The current situation was indeed a fight between "gods," and he couldn't afford to offend either side.
He couldn't even remain a bystander.
He had invited Master Mo to dinner, but now he was blocked, and it seemed a fight was about to break out. If he stood by and did nothing, it would be like adding insult to injury.
Forget about seeking favor; if Master Mo didn't find a way to kill him, it would be a blessing.
This Master Mo appeared gentle and amiable, but Fan Jin wasn't a fool. He knew that Mo Hua wasn't as simple as he seemed.
You can't judge a book by its cover.
At the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, his abilities surpassed the four great sects, earning him the title of Array Dao Supreme. In Void Gate Sect, he could sit and drink tea with elders, clearly no ordinary person.
"What the hell... What should I do now?"
In that instant, Fan Jin was so anxious he felt like his heart would jump out of his throat.
Time wasn't on his side, as both sides were about to engage in battle.
If he stepped forward now, he could still choose a side. But if he hesitated any longer, once the fight began, he wouldn't even have a choice.
Fan Jin clenched his teeth, his mind racing.
If he didn't help, he would offend Master Mo, and the Shen Family wouldn't remember his favor.
If he did help, he would offend the Shen Family, but he would also curry favor with Master Mo.
Choosing the lesser of two evils, since he would offend one side anyway, he might as well choose the one that would benefit him.
"Damn it, I don't care anymore..."
Wealth and honor come with risk.
If you want the benefits, you have to take the risks. If you're afraid of the risks, then don't even think about progressing.
Moreover, Master Mo was his guest, and it was only right and reasonable for him to step in when Master Mo was provoked.
Fan Jin's legs felt weak, but he still took a step forward and stood in front of Mo Hua.
With this step, his feet felt a bit unsteady, but his heart felt more settled.
Since he had made his choice, there was no point in looking back.
Fan Jin's face turned cold.
A Golden Core cultivator from the Shen Family coldly asked, "Fan Diansi, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to offend our Shen Family just to show off?"
Fan Jin replied with a serious expression, "I don't care about your grudges, but this Master Mo is a distinguished guest of our Dao Administration. At least within Lonely Mountain City, it is our Dao Administration's duty to ensure his safety."
He had brought up the Dao Administration.
This way, it wasn't that he deliberately wanted to oppose the Shen Family, but that he had to step forward due to his duties in the Dao Administration.
If investigated later, at least on the surface, they wouldn't blame him.
With a legitimate reason, when working in the Dao Administration, sometimes how you speak is more important than what you do.
Another Shen Family Golden Core cultivator sneered, "You think bringing up the Dao Administration will scare us? You'd better..."
"What are you babbling about?" The Shen Family young master frowned. "Attack."
The two Shen Family Golden Core cultivators hesitated and then cupped their hands, "Yes."
In the Shen Family group, there were actually only two Golden Core cultivators, with the rest being Foundation Establishment cultivators. But in a third-rank immortal city like Lonely Mountain City, two Golden Core cultivators were more than enough to dominate.
On Master Mo's side, aside from the two Golden Core cultivators, there was only Fan Jin himself.
In terms of numbers, the Shen Family had the advantage.
Moreover, their goal was to capture Master Mo to appease the Shen Family young master.
As for Master Gu and Fan Jin, they dared not attack the Shen Family young master, and could only protect Master Mo, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, putting them at a disadvantage from the start.
With more on one side and fewer on the other, the situation was one of attack and defense.
The circumstances were extremely unfavorable, and both Master Gu and Fan Jin were aware of this, making their expressions grim.
At this moment, one of the Shen Family Golden Core cultivators took out a Departure Fire Dagger, while the other formed dark green iron claws with both hands, ready to charge at Master Mo.
Master Gu's face was as calm as still water.
Once they started fighting, the situation would be beyond his control.
Moreover, the surging Golden Core spiritual power could easily injure Master Mo.
If Master Mo suffered even a minor injury, Fan Jin wouldn't be able to explain to the Gu Family or Void Gate Sect, let alone the fact that Master Mo was their Artisan Shop's great benefactor.
Master Gu's heart grew anxious, and he said, "Wait!"
The two Shen Family Golden Core cultivators paused and looked at Master Gu.
Master Gu spoke in a deep voice, "Don't blame me for not telling you, but this Master Mo is from the main branch of Void Gate Sect. He has been personally taught by the sect leader and has gained his favor. Before you take action against him, you should consider the consequences."
Master Mo had an even more impressive background.
But Master Gu was afraid that too many people would overhear and attract unwanted attention, so he only revealed a more low-key aspect.
After all, there was only one Supreme Array Dao Master, and it was too conspicuous.
Although the main branch of Void Gate Sect held a respectable status, there could be many of them.
Among those present, Shen Linshu's "companion," the Shen Family young master, knew about Master Mo's background.
But the two Shen Family Golden Core cultivators didn't.
As soon as the words "main branch of Void Gate Sect" were mentioned, the two cultivators' eyelids twitched.
They were from a side branch of the Shen Family and were ordinary Golden Core cultivators. They had to risk their lives for the main branch disciples to have a future in the clan.
They might have killed countless people, but that didn't mean they were unaware of the potential consequences. They weren't reckless enough to kill just anyone.
Ordinary wandering cultivators could be killed without a second thought.
Killing a disciple from a regular family was also acceptable.
Killing someone from a side branch of a noble family or an outer disciple of a sect was possible, but it had to be done discreetly, without leaving any evidence.
As for the main branch of a noble family or a core disciple of a sect, unless there was an immense fortune or a heavenly opportunity, they would never risk their lives to kill such individuals.
Void Gate Sect was ranked third among the Eight Great Sects of Qianxue State.
Being from the main branch of Void Gate Sect carried significant weight.
Moreover, this was happening in public, and Master Gu and Fan Diansi weren't lowly ranked. They didn't have the courage to openly attack and kill a core disciple of a sect.
The two Shen Family Golden Core cultivators furrowed their brows and hesitated.
The Shen Family young master became displeased, "What are you waiting for? Kill him, and I'll take full responsibility."
The two Shen Family Golden Core cultivators clenched their teeth and cursed inwardly, 'You can't take responsibility for shit.'
The punishment for killing a sect's direct lineage was severe, and the Void Gate Sect would surely seek revenge.
As the young master, he would naturally have the protection of his ancestors and Ascended True Men, and a minor punishment would suffice.
But for these henchmen, there was only one outcome—to be pushed forward to take the blame and bear the wrath of the Void Gate Sect.
The two Golden Core Cultivators from the Shen family were well aware of this.
Seeing the hesitation and fear in the two Golden Core Cultivators, the young master's face turned cold, and his words became harsh.
"You're from a side branch, eating the food of the main family. When something happens, you hesitate to step forward. Do you want me to tell my father and have him take away your livelihood?" The young master spoke with a chilling tone.
The two Golden Core Cultivators' hearts sank upon hearing this, and they felt a surge of anger.
But they had no choice. As they saw the young master's face grow darker, they knew he was genuinely angry, so they had to put aside their concerns and take action.
The aura of their Golden Core cultivation surged, overwhelming and filled with killing intent.
One of them brandished a dagger, its cold light aimed at Mo Hua's throat.
The other transformed his hands into sharp claws, aiming for Mo Hua's heart meridian.
Master Gu and Fan Jin's expressions turned solemn, not daring to show any slack. One wielded his sword like the wind, while the other raised a large hammer, fighting the two Shen family Golden Core Cultivators. They did their utmost to protect Mo Hua.
In the narrow tavern, wooden and stone debris flew, formations trembled, and the walls shattered inch by inch.
The two Shen family Golden Core Cultivators clearly had the upper hand.
Master Gu and Fan Jin were hard-pressed on both sides, looking somewhat disheveled.
The young master wore a mocking smile, coldly observing the fight. But after a while, his face stiffened, and he couldn't help but curse.
The battle seemed intense, but it was only the Golden Core Cultivators fighting; Mo Hua was not involved at all.
The two Shen family Golden Core Cultivators were solely focused on their respective opponents—one battling the artisan Master Gu and the other facing off against the registrar Fan Jin. As for Mo Hua, they didn't dare touch him! Even in their attacks, they would intentionally avoid Mo Hua, fearing they might hurt him.
On the surface, it looked like a vigorous fight, but it was all for show.
"These two are useless!"
"They're Golden Core Cultivators, yet they're as timid as mice!"
The young master's face contorted with rage.
"They're just dogs, looking fierce but too cowardly to bite when faced with a real challenge."
Alright, if the dogs won't bite, then the "master" has no choice but to take action himself.
The young master extended his right hand, and a spiritual light flashed as a Life-Linked Cultivation sword appeared—a luxurious and precious sword already tempered to seventy to eighty percent of its potential.
"He's just a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator with inferior spiritual roots and weak blood energy. What's so special about a mere array master?"
The young master gripped the longsword, his face filled with killing intent, and approached Mo Hua.
His entire body exuded a thick aura, and his sword intent was chilling, clearly cultivated from a high-grade technique, with his sword art also of exceptional quality.
"Not good!" Master Gu sensed the young master's killing intent, his expression changing as he immediately shifted his offensive and attacked the young master.
Fan Jin also put aside his concerns and dared to offend the Shen family, stepping forward to block the young master.
But their moves were intercepted halfway by the two Shen family Golden Core Cultivators.
Having already disobeyed the young master by not attacking Mo Hua, they certainly wouldn't allow Fan Jin to spoil the young master's plans now.
In that brief moment, the young master, sword in hand, had already reached Mo Hua's front, unleashing his sword techniques to their utmost.
The chilling sword light and murderous sword intent were overwhelming.
And all this killing intent was directed at Mo Hua, who stood weak and frail before them.
The outcome was clear.
"Young Master, run!" Master Gu being held back by the Shen family Golden Core Cultivators, was desperate to rescue Mo Hua.
"It's too late," the young master said, raising his longsword. His once-handsome face now revealed a cruel and fiendish expression.
"I'll cripple you, you blind fool..."
Mo Hua, who had been standing in the same spot without moving, finally lifted his eyes and gave the young master a faint glance.
Just one glance.
In an instant, a sharp and pitiful scream, like that of a pig being slaughtered, reverberated throughout the dining hall.
The young master's longsword slipped from his hand, and he covered his eyes, as if he had seen something terrifying. His entire body trembled, and he rolled on the ground like a pig being branded with a hot iron.
This change came suddenly and without warning.
The battling cultivators all stopped and stared in shock, following the sound to witness an unbelievable scene.
The young master, who had been holding the longsword and acting invincible a moment ago, now cowered like a lost dog, his face contorted with fear as he struggled and screamed.
"Young Master!"
The two Shen family Golden Core Cultivators were shocked and immediately abandoned their opponents to rush to the young master's side.
"Young Master, what's wrong?"
"What happened?"
The young master continued to cover his eyes, his body shaking, "I... I saw..."
"So much blood, ghosts, and prison..."
"I..."
"Don't kill me, don't kill me..."
...
He seemed to be in a state of madness, immersed in some terrifying mental torment.
The two Shen family Golden Core Cultivators felt a chill in their hearts and simultaneously glared at Mo Hua, anger in their eyes. "What did you do to our young master?"
Mo Hua scoffed, "I didn't even move a finger. What could I have done to him?"
The Shen family Golden Core Cultivators were taken aback.
They had witnessed the scene clearly—it was their young master who had made the first move, while this young master from the Void Gate Sect hadn't moved at all, not even lifting a finger, let alone attacking.
How was this possible?
Mo Hua thought for a moment and then spoke, "Your young master, did he cultivate some forbidden art? Perhaps his cultivation went awry, and he suffered backlash, leading to Fire Transformation Madness?"
"You... you slander!" The Shen family Golden Core Cultivators were furious, but their anger was somewhat forced.
They knew that these young masters from noble families, living in luxury, might secretly cultivate forbidden arts to seek thrills.
Hearing Mo Hua's words and seeing the young master rolling on the ground, babbling incoherently, and appearing insane, the two Shen family Golden Core Cultivators couldn't help but suspect, "Could it be that Young Master Qing cultivated a forbidden art, causing his meridians to go haywire and leading to Fire Transformation Madness?"
The crowd was still in a state of shock and suspicion when a commotion gradually arose.
It seemed that the disturbance here was too great, alerting the surrounding cultivators, and many of them gathered around.
Master Gu approached Mo Hua and spoke softly, "Mo Gongzi, with so many people around, it's better to leave early."
Just as Mo Hua was about to leave, two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family immediately stopped him, "Stop! You can't leave."
"You must give us an explanation for the young master's transformation."
"Indeed!"
Mo Hua glanced at them indifferently and said, "You want me to give you an explanation after trying to kill me? Do you really think my Void Gate Sect can't take you down?"
The two Shen family Golden Core cultivators trembled inwardly, and a chill ran down their spines.
Although Mo Hua was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, at this moment, his cold and indifferent demeanor, holding the power of life and death, made these two Golden Core cultivators feel a hint of fear.
If it wasn't an empty threat, then it meant that this seemingly frail young master indeed had the background and means to control them.
The two Golden Core cultivators from the Shen family were at a loss for a moment.
Just then, a commotion rippled through the crowd, and after a moment, it quieted down again.
The crowd parted to the sides, and a middle-aged cultivator with a paper fan in hand, a refined appearance, and an extraordinary bearing, walked forward.
The two Shen family Golden Core cultivators recognized him and immediately greeted him with respect, "Elder Xiu, your arrival is most timely."
The middle-aged cultivator frowned, "What's going on here?"
"A minor conflict..." One of the Shen family Golden Core cultivators approached and whispered a few words into his ear.
The middle-aged cultivator nodded arrogantly and swept his gaze over Mo Hua.
Initially, he glanced at Mo Hua without much concern, but after a moment, he stared at Mo Hua with widened eyes, unable to look away.
As he continued to stare, his pupils gradually dilated, and his expression became filled with disbelief, and eventually, even... horror.
"You..."
The middle-aged cultivator's lips trembled, but he managed to suppress the shock in his heart and spoke in a seemingly calm tone, "Okay... I understand... Let's discuss this matter later... The safety of Qing Gongzi is the priority, let's find a way to send him back to the Shen family first..."
The middle-aged cultivator gave instructions, but his gaze wandered, and he couldn't bring himself to look at Mo Hua.
The crowd exchanged puzzled glances.
And so, this farce came to an abrupt end.
The Shen family members escorted their young master away from the dining hall.
The middle-aged cultivator, referred to as Elder Xiu, turned his back to Mo Hua, appearing calm but hurrying away.
Master Gu and Fan Jin exchanged a glance, both feeling that something was amiss.
"Mo Gongzi..."
"Let's go back." Mo Hua watched the middle-aged cultivator's back as he disappeared at the end of the corridor, his gaze slightly focused, and he spoke slowly.
"Okay."
Master Gu and Fan Jin nodded.
It wasn't a place to linger.
After all, this was the Shen family's dining hall, and they didn't want Mo Hua to stay here any longer, to avoid any further unexpected incidents.
The three of them left the dining hall and headed in the opposite direction of the Shen family.
As they walked, the distance between them gradually increased, and there were no further incidents.
Fan Jin escorted Mo Hua back to Master Gu's Artisan Shop, only then did he feel relieved and bid farewell with a bow, "The Dao Administration still has matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you further. The Shen family is powerful, so please be extra cautious, Mo Gongzi."
Mo Hua nodded and replied softly, "Thank you, Registrar Fan, I won't forget your kindness."
Fan Jin's heart was filled with joy, but he remained humble, "It's just a small favor, Gongzi is too kind. In the future, if Gongzi needs anything, please don't hesitate to command, and Fan will do his best."
Mo Hua smiled and bowed, "Okay."
Fan Jin's heart finally felt at ease, and he bid farewell with a smile and left with quick steps.
After Fan Jin left, Master Gu still had some concerns.
"Young master, perhaps it's best if you depart early and return to the Void Gate Sect. I fear..."
Master Gu didn't elaborate, but Mo Hua understood.
He thought for a moment and nodded, "That's a good idea, but before that, there's something else..."
Mo Hua paused, his gaze filled with meaning, "I need to meet someone."
...
In the northwest of Lonely Mountain City, in front of a grand mansion.
The middle-aged cultivator with a folding fan in hand and a refined appearance instructed a Shen family disciple, "The clan's pill master has examined Qing Gongzi, and it seems he was only frightened and scared, probably nothing serious. You should inform Elder Shouhang as soon as possible, after all, he only has this one son... I have some affairs to attend to in the sect, so I must return and deal with them, and won't stay long."
"Yes."
After giving instructions, the middle-aged cultivator boarded a carriage and left the Shen family mansion. He then headed south along the street and exited the city gate, driving straight out of the city towards the solitary mountain.
Inside the carriage, the middle-aged cultivator closed his eyes to rest, but his brows were slightly furrowed, indicating his troubled mind.
The desolate mountain scenery around him was left behind.
The carriage moved further and further away from Lonely Mountain City.
After half an hour of driving, they passed through a desolate area where the middle-aged cultivator suddenly opened his eyes.
He hesitated for a moment, sighed deeply, and shook his head helplessly.
"Stop the carriage."
The carriage stopped, and after a moment, the middle-aged cultivator got off and instructed the disciple driving the carriage, "Wait here for me."
"Yes," the disciple replied with a bow.
The middle-aged cultivator entered the nearby desolate forest alone.
The forest was desolate and uninhabited, with thick layers of yellowed fallen leaves that rustled underfoot.
The middle-aged cultivator walked into the forest, stepping on the fallen leaves, and after about a hundred steps, he looked up and saw a young cultivator with deep and profound eyes sitting on a tree branch in front of him.
The middle-aged cultivator looked at the young man before him and sighed, "It's been a long time since we last met outside Li Shan City."
Mo Hua nodded, "Yes, it has been a long time."
His gaze was profound as he examined the cultivator before him.
This person was the same middle-aged cultivator who had accompanied Yun Shaoye and the skinny old man.
In Nan Yue City and the ruined temple outside Li Prefecture City, they had some interactions.
However, Mo Hua never imagined that he would be an elder of the Shen family.
(End of Chapter)
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