Chapter 977: Changing Fate
Chapter 977: Changing Fate
After his work, Mo Hua took some time to visit the small library near the disciples' residence to check on Big White Dog.
Big White Dog was dozing off.
When Mo Hua approached, it suddenly woke up with a start and jumped up. Seeing that it was Mo Hua, it stuck out its tongue and then tried to lie back down.
But before it could settle down, Big White Dog slowly stood up again, its big eyes staring at Mo Hua, looking left and right, and even sniffing the air around Mo Hua.
Then, as if it understood something, it shivered, its white fur standing on end as it stared at Mo Hua, the entire dog looking dumbfounded.
It seemed that Mo Hua had become even stronger, to the point of being overwhelming.
A sad, thick barrier now separated them.
Big White Dog stood there like a clay statue, motionless in the wind.
Mo Hua found it amusing and took out a bone, tossing it to Big White Dog.
It was just an ordinary bone.
Big White Dog let out a cold huff, initially reluctant, but after a while, it caught a whiff of the intense demonic aura within the bone. Its eyes lit up, and drool started dripping from its mouth.
This bone was specially prepared by Mo Hua.
Using a Divine Dao Formation, he had sealed a portion of the demons within it, those he had captured from the Evil Deity Throne during the Evil Embryo Nightmare.
Mo Hua had previously promised to bring Big White Dog some "delicious" treats, so he took the opportunity to save some demons for it to feast on.
Big White Dog chewed on the bone, absorbing the demons, its tail wagging non-stop. The distance between them gradually faded, and it once again considered Mo Hua a "good friend."
Mo Hua patted the white fur on its neck.
Big White Dog rubbed its big head against Mo Hua.
Inside the library, the Tai Xu Clan Chief held a book, staring at this scene in disbelief. The more he watched, the more surreal it seemed.
...
After feeding Big White Dog, Mo Hua returned, feeling content.
The next day was a weekend.
Following his plan, Mo Hua went to the Dao Ting Si and visited the Yu Hua Jing Xia Inspector.
Xia Inspector, from the Xia family, held a high position and power as an inspector in the Central Dao Ting. He was usually very busy and not someone ordinary people had the privilege to meet.
But upon hearing that Mo Hua had arrived, he set aside some family and sect invitations and personally met with Mo Hua.
"Greetings, Xia Inspector," Mo Hua said respectfully.
"Good," Xia Inspector replied with satisfaction, extending his hand to indicate, "Please sit, young brother."
Beside him was a table and a chair, with a cup of tea on the table.
The table and chair were ordinary, and the tea was bland.
But this was Xia Inspector's furniture.
Usually, even the heads or leaders of small and medium-sized families or sects didn't have the right to sit here. They had to stand and listen to Xia Inspector's questions, let alone drink that cup of tea.
Mo Hua didn't think too much about it. After sitting down comfortably, he took a sip of tea and looked around, thinking to himself:
This Xia Inspector seems to be quite upright.
The office was only slightly larger than Uncle Gu's, with a simple decor and a similar layout.
Of course, this was in the Dao Ting Si. Whether he was corrupt in private was another matter.
Mo Hua leisurely took another sip of tea.
Xia Inspector also silently observed Mo Hua, noticing his calm demeanor as he enjoyed the tea in the Dao Ting Si.
Despite his respect, Mo Hua maintained a balanced attitude, showing no signs of nervousness or anxiety when facing the Dao Ting Inspector. Xia Inspector couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Indeed, he was a talented prodigy nurtured by the Patriarch, displaying such composure and demeanor at a young age.
Xia Inspector nodded slightly and took a sip of tea, then said slowly, "Young brother, what brings you here?"
Mo Hua got straight to the point, "It's about the Shen Clan."
Even with Xia Inspector's deep and calm demeanor, his eyes narrowed slightly.
He hadn't expected Mo Hua to be so direct and straightforward, seeking him out to discuss the Shen Clan's matters.
"Xia Inspector," Mo Hua said in a low voice, "You must already know that I went to the Shen Clan's mine, right?"
Xia Inspector remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
The Shen Clan's situation had consumed all his attention over the past few days.
With his connections in the Dao Ting Si, he naturally knew that the incident's trigger was two disciples being kidnapped by grave robbers and taken into the Shen Clan's abandoned mine.
More people entered later, leading to the subsequent conflict.
And those two "kidnapped" disciples were Shen Qing Sheng from the Shen Clan and Mo Hua himself.
Due to Mo Hua's identity, he had been hesitant to investigate further.
Moreover, although the Tai Xu Men seemed calm on the surface, behind the scenes, Xun Lao Xin had already begun to suppress information about Mo Hua.
Even if he tried to investigate, he would only hit a dead end.
Mo Hua could guess that Xun Lao Xin had been quietly supporting him without his knowledge.
But keeping this matter hidden wasn't a long-term solution.
There are no walls without cracks.
Mo Hua also wanted to try to solve the problem himself and learn to interact with "important figures" like Xia Inspector.
"Xia Inspector, do you want to know what really happened in the mine?" Mo Hua asked quietly.
Xia Inspector thought for a moment and nodded.
Of course, he wanted to know.
He had already heard some news about the Solitary Mountain incident.
But these were one-sided accounts, fragmented and vague, not the whole story, let alone the truth.
Deeper matters were even more inaccessible.
But could Mo Hua really tell him so easily?
Xia Inspector's eyes showed his contemplation, but he didn't expect Mo Hua to simply take a sip of tea, clear his throat, and then narrate the entire story from beginning to end.
Starting from discovering clues on Solitary Mountain, encountering grave robbers, entering the Shen Clan's cemetery, the Corpse Cult, the Ten-Thousand Corpse Coffin, the group of demons, including the Emperor of Da Huang, the second elder of the Demon Sect, the late Golden Core demon cultivator, the young master of the Xuan Mo Sect, and more.
Additionally, Mo Hua revealed what the Shen Clan had done, the origin of the mass grave, the purpose of the cemetery, and the restoration of the Da Huang Royal Family...
Mo Hua omitted some details related to the Evil Deity, Huang Mountain Lord, and the secrets of the Divine Dao.
However, he truthfully shared the rest of the story with Xia Inspector.
Even Xia Inspector, in his high position and with his vast experience, found it hard to believe after hearing the whole story.
The mass grave, the noble families' killings, the Demon Sect's dragon-raising, and the Da Huang rebellion...
The cause and effect within these events were incredibly complex.
The situation is indeed grave.
Especially with the "Dragon Raising" and "Rebellion" matters, they are essentially treading on the red line drawn by the Dao Ting.
If it remains hidden, it's fine, but once exposed and blown out of proportion, it could truly shake the Dao Ting, and inevitably, a storm of bloodshed will follow.
Xia Inspector's heart sank with apprehension.
He glanced at Mo Hua again, feeling even more astonished.
In a situation where demonic leaders gather, Late Golden Core cultivators engage in fierce battles, and chaos reigns, this young man managed to survive unscathed, and even calmly came to the Dao Ting Si for tea? Xia Inspector furrowed his brows.
Among the many talented individuals from the Xia family, some may have better aptitudes, higher cultivation, and greater ambitions than him, but when it comes to this kind of ability and composure, there are probably not many who can surpass him...
Xia Inspector remained silent for a long time, digesting the information revealed by Mo Hua.
After a moment, his gaze slightly intensified, and he slowly said, "Little brother, by telling me all this, are you asking me to... deal with the Shen Clan?"
Mo Hua asked, "Can you do it?"
Xia Inspector replied, "Half of Gu Shan Cheng was blown up by the Shen Clan, and everything within has turned to dust, buried deep underground. Even if there is evidence, most of it has been destroyed. Without proof, we cannot convict the Shen Clan."
Although he said this, Mo Hua knew that even with evidence, Xia Inspector might not necessarily take action against the Shen Clan.
Noble families prioritize their interests.
The Dao Ting weighs the situation.
Neither would put "fairness" and "justice" as their top priority.
Xia Inspector was no exception.
He might not be a bad person, but he also might not be a good person. In dealing with people and matters, he would undoubtedly first weigh the pros and cons to seek the greatest benefit.
If he found someone useful, he would try to win them over, but if that person became useless, he would definitely sell them out.
The same goes for the Shen Clan.
If there really was "evidence," and it fell into Xia Inspector's hands, his first thought would be to use this "evidence" to seek the greatest advantage for the Xia Clan and himself.
Mo Hua didn't expect Xia Inspector to truly deal with the Shen Clan.
His purpose was simply to hand the "knife" to Xia Inspector, giving him an opening to carve out a piece of the Shen Clan's fat.
Xia Inspector represented the vast Xia Clan and the supreme Dao Ting. Once he got involved, he would undoubtedly put immense pressure on the Shen Clan.
The Shen Clan would have no time to spare for anything else.
Even if, in the end, he colluded with the Shen Clan, it would still mean that he had severed a significant portion of their interests.
"Bribing" this Dao Ting Inspector would undoubtedly come at a high cost.
The Shen Clan would have to give up a substantial amount of resources.
As long as it weakens the Shen Clan's power, it would be a good thing.
The Shen Clan is a Fifth-Rank Noble Family, and in Qian Xue Di Jie, they are a formidable force. A small Zhu Ji cultivator like Mo Hua naturally couldn't bring them down alone.
Although the Gu Shan Cheng incident has been exposed, with the Shen Clan's Patriarch orchestrating from behind the scenes, the final outcome might not be as satisfying as one would hope.
Therefore, the most Mo Hua can do is to stir up trouble.
With the Shen Clan exhausted and busy, they won't have the energy to focus on him.
And when they lose too much to others, the Shen Clan's vitality will be damaged, leading to more internal conflicts.
A centipede, even when dead, is not easily straightened.
The downfall of a Noble Family is rarely an overnight affair.
For now, this is the best Mo Hua can do.
As for how much blood the Shen Clan will shed this time, Mo Hua couldn't say for sure, but he believed in the greed of Noble Families and the Dao Ting's methods.
Other matters were beyond his consideration.
Mo Hua truthfully told Xia Inspector, "I don't like the Shen Clan, but the Gu Shan Cheng incident is too big. I need to focus on my cultivation and can't manage or have the ability to handle so much."
"Moreover, upholding the Dao's principles and enforcing the law is the responsibility of the Dao Ting Si. As a small disciple of a sect, I can only do my part and reveal the Shen Clan's secrets. The Gu Shan Cheng incident can only be judged fairly by you, the Inspector."
Mo Hua spoke with righteousness, and he distanced himself from the matter.
From then on, it was the Dao Ting's responsibility.
Xia Inspector looked at Mo Hua intently, "Is that all?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded.
"You don't have any requests?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment and said, "Just one, please don't reveal that I told you. Otherwise, if the Shen Clan finds out that I leaked the secret to you, they will definitely make things difficult for me in every way. I won't be able to cultivate peacefully in the Tai Xu Clan."
Xia Inspector nodded solemnly, "Of course, you can rest assured."
In the Dao Ting Si, whistleblowing is strictly protected.
Moreover, Mo Hua's identity is special.
If he hadn't told Xia Inspector about these matters, it wouldn't have mattered, but now that he has personally come forward, the Dao Ting Si must find a way to keep his secret, both morally and logically.
Otherwise, they would offend both the Tai Xu Clan and lose their credibility as an "Inspector."
In a sense, this was also Mo Hua's gesture of goodwill.
Xia Inspector couldn't possibly refuse.
"This matter, known only to the heavens and earth, and you and I," Xia Inspector assured him.
Mo Hua nodded in relief.
"By the way," Mo Hua remembered something, "Inspector, do you know Fan Jin Fan Dian Si?"
Xia Inspector thought for a moment, "You mean the Dian Si of Gu Shan Cheng?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded.
Xia Inspector's gaze turned slightly solemn, and he said, "Regarding Gu Shan Cheng, I sent someone to ask him, but he was vague and unclear."
Mo Hua said, "He was afraid of retaliation from the Shen Clan, so he was cautious. That day, he accompanied me into the Gu Shan Cheng cemetery. If there's anything you don't know about, you can ask him directly. If he's afraid of your prestige and doesn't dare to tell the truth, just mention my name."
"Mention your name?"
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded, "In the cemetery, Fan Dian Si helped me a lot, and we have some connections. If you mention my name, he will speak."
Mo Hua was also giving Fan Dian Si an opportunity.
Fan Dian Si came from humble beginnings and lacked connections, longing for advancement but never getting a chance, hitting walls everywhere.
Now, Mo Hua has brought him up in front of Xia Inspector, giving him a chance to climb the ladder.
Whether he can seize it or not depends on him.
Xia Inspector also understood Mo Hua's intention.
For Mo Hua to have a connection with him and to speak up for him in front of an Inspector, he must have some ability.
"Fan Jin," Xia Inspector nodded, "Alright, I'll remember that..."
Having said what needed to be said, Mo Hua drained the tea in his cup and then stood up to bid farewell, "I've disturbed you, Mo Hua takes his leave."
"Take care, young brother, come again when you're free."
Xia Inspector's expression was calm.
Mo Hua bowed and left gracefully.
After Mo Hua left, Xia Inspector remained seated, deep in thought, his mind not on the Shen Clan's affairs, but on Mo Hua:
"Setting aside everything else, just this demeanor alone is extraordinary..."
"He's very perceptive, and what's rare is that it's not apparent from his appearance."
"It's a pity, his background and lineage are too low to cross the threshold of the Xia family's direct lineage marriage. The rules of aristocratic families are too strict, otherwise..."
Xia Inspector sighed softly.
...
After bidding farewell to Xia Inspector, Mo Hua happened to be passing by, so he dropped by Gu Changhuai's place for a visit, had some snacks, chatted for a while, and then returned to the Tai Xu Gate.
After that, Mo Hua stayed indoors for a period of time.
After about ten days, the matter of Gu Shan City was temporarily settled, including Xia Inspector's side, and Mo Hua finally went out, planning to make a trip to Gu Shan City.
Xun Ziyou was still following him.
This was the command of the Patriarch, and it was fine if Mo Hua didn't leave the sect, but as long as he stepped out of the sect, he must be accompanied, leaving no room for error.
This command was nothing unusual.
Xun Ziyou had long been accustomed to being Mo Hua's "bodyguard," and he didn't find it surprising at the moment.
But this time, Xun Lao Xiong's attitude was even more serious and solemn than before, and he even seemed to be treating Mo Hua as the sect's most precious treasure, protecting him with utmost care.
Xun Ziyou felt a bit puzzled.
Was it because of the Gu Shan incident, fearing that Mo Hua would be retaliated against by the Shen Clan, or was there some deeper reason?
On the carriage, Xun Ziyou couldn't help but observe Mo Hua.
The more he looked, the more he felt that Mo Hua seemed to be a bit different from before, as if shrouded in a vague mist, making him even more incomprehensible.
"What method did the Patriarch use this time?"
Xun Ziyou shook his head and sighed in his heart, "Even a direct grandson wouldn't receive such treatment..."
He put his thoughts aside and stopped thinking further. Instead, he released his divine sense to guard against any possible dangers along the way.
The carriage jolted as they rushed to Gu Shan City.
After more than half a month, Gu Shan City had become much quieter.
Due to the previous turmoil, the Golden Core cultivators from various aristocratic families and sects had mixed together and caused a big disturbance. Although they hadn't harmed the city's cultivators, it still left the people of Gu Shan City in fear and trepidation.
Most cultivators stayed indoors.
The streets became more desolate, and there were fewer cultivators passing by.
In the distance, half of Gu Shan had collapsed, and Gu Shan City now looked more like a "Half Mountain City."
This was the doing of the Shen Clan.
To cover up their crime, they burned the bodies and filled the graves, and eventually, they directly blew up half of Gu Shan, burying everything deep beneath the mountain.
This was a third-rate state, and many of the rocks in Gu Shan were also third-rate, extremely hard, and very difficult to excavate.
Once buried, it was almost impossible to see the light of day again.
Including the deepest part of Gu Shan, the Evil Embryo Temple.
Mo Hua silently gazed at the collapsed half of Gu Shan.
Even now, whenever he thought of that temple, he would still feel a hint of eeriness.
He always felt that he seemed to have missed something...
Now that the temple was buried, he couldn't delve deeper into it.
Mo Hua withdrew his gaze and stopped thinking further.
The carriage entered the city, and the streets were clear, with few foreign cultivators in sight.
The city was now devoid of the shadows of aristocratic families and sect cultivators, including the Shen Clan.
The Shen Clan had been expelled from Gu Shan City by the Dao Ting Si.
This was the result of Xia Inspector's efforts, using the authority of the Dao Ting Si to forcibly expel all Shen Clan cultivators from Gu Shan City and also issued a ban, prohibiting them from entering Gu Shan City again.
Although the Shen Clan had covered up the evidence, blowing up half of Gu Shan was still a major mistake.
Moreover, everyone had their guesses about what had happened in Gu Shan.
The Shen Clan, knowing they were in the wrong, dared not make a fuss about it.
And with the Shen Clan gone, the various aristocratic families that wanted to take advantage of the situation also withdrew.
No one cared about this Gu Shan City, which had been drained of its value, was poor, remote, and had nothing to offer.
Gu Shan City was now truly "quiet."
Mo Hua sat in the carriage, traveling along the streets until he reached Gu Master's casting workshop.
Gu Master had been waiting at the entrance early on, and upon seeing Mo Hua, he immediately cupped his hands in greeting, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, Little Mo."
"Gu Master, there's no need to be so polite," Mo Hua smiled gently, "Is everything prepared?"
"Following the young master's instructions, with the approval of the Gu family and Madam Wen Wan, the spirit machinery has been transported, and the manpower has been arranged."
"Good, let's begin then..."
Mo Hua nodded, his eyes bright.
He wanted to give the wandering cultivators of Gu Shan City a foundation for their survival.
With twenty spiritual patterns and a high-level second-rate formation master's profound formation skills, Mo Hua was already capable of doing many things.
He still remembered his vow in Tongxian City, standing before the myriad lights, to strive in his cultivation, comprehend formation techniques, and seek longevity by understanding the mysteries of the universe through formations, defying fate.
He wanted to change not only his own fate but also the fate of all low-level cultivators under the heavens...
Mo Hua was no longer the novice he once was. He knew that the Nine Provinces were vast, and this grand aspiration was too difficult to achieve.
But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Grand matters start with small ones.
Now, he had joined the Tai Xu Gate, becoming the leader in formation techniques and achieving spiritual pattern condensation.
His own fate was gradually being rewritten.
Within his capabilities, he also wanted to change the fate of these struggling cultivators.
First, change the fate of one person, then change the fate of an entire city.
A tower is built grain by grain, and a river is formed drop by drop.
One day, when he comprehends the mysteries of creation and formations reach the heavens, he will be able to change the fate of the Nine Provinces and the destiny of all living beings.
With this, he will prove his Dao heart.
Seeking true longevity.
(End of Chapter)
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