Chapter 988: Blood of the Dragon
Chapter 988: Blood of the Dragon
At the Elder's Residence in Tai Xu Gate.
As the year drew to a close, Xun Zi You, as usual, discussed matters related to the Sword Discussion Conference with Old Master Xun.
These were matters that Old Master Xun had specifically arranged.
After three rounds of tea, when the main topic of conversation was almost over, Xun Zi You took a sip of tea, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked, "Grandmaster, did you... teach Mo Hua the sword technique?"
Old Master Xun was a little surprised. He looked at Xun Zi You and asked calmly, "Why do you ask?"
Xun Zi You remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Mo Hua seems to have... learned the Tai Xu Shen Nian Hua Jian Zhen Jue..."
Old Master Xun's pupils constricted slightly, "What did you say?!"
Xun Zi You silently repeated himself.
Old Master Xun's gaze intensified, "You saw this?"
Xun Zi You nodded slightly, "I saw him use Shen Nian Hua Jian... to kill a Third Grade Golden Dan Pig Demon."
Old Master Xun was taken aback.
After a long pause, his eyebrows furrowed, and he looked at Xun Zi You with confusion, asking slowly, "Do you yourself... know what you just said?"
Mo Hua...
Learned the Shen Nian Hua Jian Zhen Jue?
Killed a Third Grade Golden Dan Pig Demon?
How could these absurd things be connected?
After a moment of thought, Old Master Xun said to Xun Zi You, "Come here and let me check your Consciousness Sea..."
He was now a little worried that Xun Zi You might have been influenced by some evil object in the Solitary Mountain Temple, leaving his Consciousness Sea still a bit muddled, making it easy for him to have wild thoughts and confuse fantasy with reality.
Old Master Xun's eyes showed concern.
Xun Zi You smiled bitterly, "Grandmaster, I'm fine. I really did see it with my own eyes..."
Old Master Xun paused, seeing the clarity in Xun Zi You's eyes, which didn't seem to be lying, and asked in a deep voice, "When did this happen?"
"During the day," Xun Zi You replied, "Mo Hua went to the Monster Refining Mountain, saying he wanted to cultivate a small Fa Men. I happened to see it..."
Xun Zi You recounted the whole incident.
Old Master Xun frowned, "Does Mo Hua know that you saw him?"
Xun Zi You pondered for a moment, "I was far away, and I had concealed my aura. He was fully focused on the pig demon, so he probably didn't notice me..."
Usually, even a Golden Dan cultivator, when fighting a Third Grade Golden Dan Pig Demon, must concentrate fully and exert all their strength. It's impossible to have the leisure to pay attention to anything else.
Not to mention that Mo Hua was only at the Zhu Ji Realm.
Old Master Xun fell silent, his expression turning serious.
Xun Zi You didn't speak.
So he had to take this seemingly "absurd" matter seriously.
But Old Master Xun furrowed his brows, thinking for a long time, and he still found it difficult to connect these events.
Looking at them individually, whether it was learning Shen Nian Hua Jian or killing a Golden Dan Pig Demon, it was absolutely impossible...
Mo Hua was only at the Zhu Ji Realm. How could he learn Shen Nian Hua Jian?
Tai Xu Shen Nian Hua Jian Zhen Jue was the supreme sword technique of Tai Xu Gate, a closely guarded legacy, and a prohibited art of the Tai Xu Gate.
The talented and brilliant sword geniuses of Tai Xu Gate throughout history had all started cultivating the sword path from a young age, laying a solid foundation.
They only entered the door after cultivating to the late Golden Dan Realm, when their divine souls were stable.
Only after cultivating to the Yu Hua Realm, when their divine souls could leave their bodies, could they achieve minor success.
It was only after reaching the Dong Xu Realm, when they could see through the real and the illusory, that they could truly slay gods.
How could a Zhu Ji cultivator learn Shen Nian Hua Jian? Moreover, Mo Hua was not even a sword cultivator.
He was a solitary cultivator who had grown up in poverty and probably hadn't even touched a spiritual sword. He had no foundation in the sword path.
He didn't even have a natal sword. How could his divine sense transform into a sword? Furthermore, where did he get his apprenticeship?
Tai Xu Shen Nian Hua Jian was a demanding technique with a harsh cultivation process and a closed lineage, making it difficult to learn.
To master it, guidance from a senior expert was essential; otherwise, it was easy to go astray and fall into a demonic path.
In the entire Tai Xu Gate, there was only one person who truly mastered Shen Nian Hua Jian.
At present, the only person in Tai Xu Gate who was truly proficient in Shen Nian Hua Jian was his senior brother, Dugu.
He himself, a Dong Xu Realm elder, had not cultivated the sword path and had never learned the Shen Nian Jian Jue.
But his senior brother...
Old Master Xun sighed in his heart.
His senior brother was still severely injured and resembled a rotten log. Now, he was sealed in the back mountain, his fate uncertain. How could he possibly teach Mo Hua the sword technique?
Even if there had been a chance to pass it on before, Mo Hua, as an outer sect disciple, would never have been allowed into the back mountain.
His senior brother secluded himself in the Sword Tomb, with an extremely aloof and eccentric personality. It was impossible for him to lower himself and personally teach Mo Hua, a small disciple with no family ties and no understanding of the sword path, the Shen Nian Hua Jian.
Moreover, even if Mo Hua had learned and mastered it, could he use Shen Nian Hua Jian to slay a Golden Dan Realm Pig Demon across realms?
That was something that couldn't even be written in a novel.
The level of skill required in Shen Nian Hua Jian was deeply terrifying.
Shen Nian Hua Jian was a profound sword technique, and within it, there were many sword forms.
The Sword Transformation Form, the Shocking God Sword, the Breaking God Sword, and finally, the Slaying God Sword Form...
Each step was a hurdle.
To slay a Golden Dan Realm demon across realms, one must cultivate the Slaying God Sword.
But to cultivate the most powerful Slaying God Sword Form, one could not know how many years it would take, nor how much heart and soul would be required.
This required the nourishment of time and dedication.
It was true that Mo Hua had formed a divine sense Dan, but he was too young. Where would he have the time to cultivate such a profound level of Shen Nian Hua Jian?
Even his senior brother Dugu, whose talent in the sword path was astonishing, could not have done such a thing at the same realm...
Moreover, Mo Hua's divine sense had just formed a Dan, and its strength was limited.
Even if he had cultivated the Slaying God Sword, pouring all his divine sense into it, how easy would it be to slay a Golden Dan Realm Pig Demon...
...
The room fell silent.
The candlelight flickered, and the flame burned slowly.
Old Master Xun remained silent, lost in deep thought.
He pondered this matter over and over again, feeling that there were loopholes everywhere.
Xun Zi You dared not disturb him.
After an unknown amount of time, Old Master Xun finally came to his senses and asked Xun Zi You, "Are you sure you saw... Mo Hua using a sword?"
Xun Zi You thought for a moment and shook his head, "He didn't have a sword in his hand, but he pointed at his forehead with two fingers, and then in his eyes, there seemed to be a hint of sword light..."
"Are you sure it was sword light?"
Xun Zi You was asked this way, and he wasn't sure either.
He hadn't seen the whole picture; he had only seen scattered golden threads that faintly formed a shadow of a sword blade.
But it was hard to say if this was sword light or not.
"But there was sword intent..."
"Are you sure it was sword intent?"
Xun Zi You had nothing more to say.
Sword intent belonged to divine sense, something intangible, and he could only rely on his experience to "feel" it, but he had no way to verify it.
Old Master Xun's gaze hardened, and he said with unwavering conviction, "Therefore, this is not the Divine Decree of Tai Xu Shen Nian Hua Jian!"
Even if there was the slightest chance, it was absolutely unacceptable!
The Divine Decree of Tai Xu Shen Nian Hua Jian was a prohibited art of Tai Xu Men.
No matter how exceptional Mo Hua was, and no matter how favored he was, his current status was still that of an outer disciple of Tai Xu Men.
For an outer disciple to secretly learn the forbidden arts of the sect was a grave offense.
If this news were to spread, Tai Xu Men would be unable to maintain its standing.
If Mo Hua were to be punished, he couldn't bear it in his heart.
According to the general sect rules, the punishment for secretly learning forbidden arts ranged from stripping one's cultivation to expulsion from the sect, and in severe cases, even execution.
If no punishment were given, it would set a dangerous precedent and invite criticism from other sects.
It would even cause unrest within the sect itself.
Everyone would follow suit, thinking it was acceptable to secretly learn forbidden arts.
This would corrupt the sect's reputation.
Therefore, it was impossible for Mo Hua to have learned the Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian.
Old Master Xun said, "He's only at the Zhu Ji Realm, and he's not a sword cultivator. How could he possibly learn the art of Shen Nian Hua Jian? Moreover, he doesn't even have a sword..."
Xun Zi You paused, feeling that it made perfect sense.
He had jumped to conclusions, and upon closer inspection, these facts indeed did not align with the principles of the sword technique of Shen Nian Hua Jian.
Mo Hua had always been accustomed to the extraordinary, but at that moment, he hadn't considered all these factors.
However, no matter how extraordinary it was, one must still adhere to the fundamental principles of cultivation.
According to the sect's records, Shen Nian Hua Jian was not cultivated in the way Mo Hua had.
Xun Zi You nodded and then lifted his gaze to meet Old Master Xun's eyes.
"Then, Elder... What kind of cultivation technique is Mo Hua using? Is it some special Shen Nian technique?"
After all, he had managed to slay a Third Grade Pig Demon.
Old Master Xun remained silent.
Xun Zi You observed his expression and felt a bit surprised. He said, "Elder, you don't know either?"
Old Master Xun raised his head and silently stared at him.
Xun Zi You immediately realized he had spoken out of turn. He quickly became more reserved, lowering his head to sip his tea, not daring to ask further.
After a moment of contemplation, Old Master Xun said to Xun Zi You, "This matter is a bit strange, but you don't need to make a big deal out of it. A Zhu Ji cultivator slaying a Jin Dan level demon beast is absurd... Moreover, Mo Hua, what kind of foundation and background does he have? You should know this in your heart."
"His proficiency in array formations is perhaps unparalleled among his peers."
"But when it comes to direct combat strength, he falls far behind."
"Not to mention, slaying a Third Grade demon beast with his own strength... This is most likely..."
Old Master Xun paused, then continued, "There must be some kind of protective treasure on his body. In a moment of crisis, it automatically protected him and killed the Third Grade demon beast."
"A protective treasure?" Xun Zi You was taken aback, then nodded, "Elder, your words make sense."
To be honest, deep down, he didn't believe it.
But he had no other explanation.
Moreover, these were the words of the Elder, and he dared not refute them.
Seeing Xun Zi You's skepticism, Old Master Xun waved his hand dismissively, "Don't concern yourself with this matter. I have it under control."
"Yes, Elder." Xun Zi You cupped his hands respectfully.
Since the Elder had spoken, Xun Zi You knew it was inappropriate to say more. He bowed and said, "Elder, I bid you farewell."
Old Master Xun nodded slightly, watching Xun Zi You, then added, "This matter... Don't spread it around, and definitely don't talk about it everywhere."
"Especially, the Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian... Whether it's true or not, once it spreads, it will stir up rumors and bring about immense trouble!"
Old Master Xun's tone was incredibly solemn.
Xun Zi You's heart skipped a beat.
He had almost forgotten; this was a forbidden art.
Forbidden arts were no laughing matter.
The so-called forbidden arts were taboo techniques, cultivation techniques that were prohibited, and no sect cultivator was allowed to learn them again.
Therefore, Mo Hua absolutely couldn't have learned the Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian.
Xun Zi You understood the severity of the situation and said solemnly, "Elder, I will forget about this matter."
Old Master Xun nodded and waved his hand, "You may leave."
"Yes, Elder." Xun Zi You bowed deeply and retreated respectfully.
In the Elder's residence, silence descended.
The candlelight flickered.
Old Master Xun remained seated, unmoving, but his thoughts were like the flickering candle, restless and uncertain.
(This sentence appears to be a garbled string of characters and doesn't seem to make sense in the context of the story.)
He couldn't bring himself to believe this matter.
Even if he wanted to believe, this situation was too far-fetched, and there was no hint of cause and effect. He couldn't provide himself with a reasonable explanation.
Moreover... His senior brother...
Old Master Xun turned his head, his gaze deep as he looked towards the back mountain. Finally, he sighed deeply.
"The Divine Decree of Tai Xu Shen Nian Hua Jian..."
These words were a painful reminder in his heart.
Once upon a time, this sword technique symbolized the most glorious era of Tai Xu Men.
Back then, Tai Xu Men was filled with Shen Nian sword cultivators, who used their hearts to comprehend the heavenly path. With the Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian, they honed their swords for a hundred years, and when the swords struck, they vanquished demons and evil spirits.
Under the Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian, demons and evil spirits were subdued, none daring to challenge its might.
However, what made Tai Xu Men great also led to its downfall.
Over the years, countless Shen Nian sword cultivators perished under this sword technique that harmed both the user and the opponent.
This sword technique was both the ultimate glory and the deepest wound of Tai Xu Men.
And now, this sword technique would finally disappear along with Senior Brother Dugu.
Once Senior Brother Dugu returned to dust, the Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian would be completely erased.
Perhaps in his lifetime, he would never see the day when the Divine Decree of Tai Xu Shen Nian Hua Jian would resurface.
The world would never witness the awe-inspiring might of Shen Nian Hua Jian again.
Old Master Xun's gaze dimmed.
This was a matter he had long been aware of.
The decision to seal the Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian was his own.
It was an inevitable outcome, but at this moment, Old Master Xun's heart was filled with profound disappointment and endless melancholy.
Just then, Xun Zi You's earlier words resurfaced in his mind.
A glimmer of light flashed in Old Master Xun's darkened eyes.
"The Divine Decree of Shen Nian Hua Jian..."
"Mo Hua..."
Old Master Xun muttered these two names, his eyebrows gradually furrowing.
"It shouldn't be possible... How could it be?"
"But what if it's true..."
Old Master Xun's heart trembled slightly, and he sighed softly.
As his divine consciousness flowed, his gaze grew deeper and more profound, as if pondering something unknown...
...
Mo Hua was unaware that his display of transforming divine consciousness into a sword was secretly observed by Elder Xun Zi You.
Battling a Third Grade Golden Dan Pig Demon was too dangerous and nerve-wracking, leaving him no room for distraction.
With his Zhu Ji cultivation, slaying the Golden Dan Pig Demon nearly exhausted all his divine consciousness.
Therefore, Mo Hua didn't realize that Elder Xun Zi You had been secretly spying on him.
For the next few days, he remained immersed in the joy of slaying the Third Grade Golden Dan Pig Demon using the Divine Consciousness Sword True Decree.
Unfortunately, this was not something he could easily share.
He couldn't very well go around boasting about it to others.
His junior disciples also had no idea that he had accomplished such an astonishing feat.
He walked alone in the night, oblivious to the world around him.
Mo Hua's heart felt heavy.
However, he could only maintain a calm demeanor and continue his cultivation.
Fortunately, after a month, this feeling of discomfort gradually faded, and it was also the end of the year, when the sect would hold its assessment.
Mo Hua finished his assessment, achieving one Jia, two Yi, and four Bing.
He received a Jia in Formation Arts, a Yi in Daoist Techniques, and surprisingly, another Yi in Pill Refinement, although he couldn't understand why.
Usually, he would get one Jia and six Bing.
Last year, he got an additional Yi.
This year, he got another Yi.
Mo Hua couldn't help but frown.
He studied causality and knew that when things deviated from the norm, there was a reason. Without any apparent cause, it was impossible for him to perform so well.
Thus, Mo Hua always had a lingering sense of unease.
...
After the assessment, it was time for the New Year celebrations.
This year, Mo Hua was going to the Gu family again to enjoy their annual feast.
He specifically went to inform Elder Xun about it.
Due to the current sensitive situation, the Shen family's affairs seemed to have been resolved on the surface, but behind the scenes, the entanglements of interests and power struggles among the noble families were unknown, leading to a storm of blood and violence.
Mo Hua wasn't sure if it was appropriate for him to go to the Gu family for a meal.
Elder Xun thought for a moment and nodded, "It's fine for you to go."
Regarding the matters of Gu Shan, both Tai Xu Gate and the Gu family were likely to be held accountable by the Shen family. They didn't mind being implicated.
Moreover, it was beneficial for Mo Hua to maintain a good relationship with the Gu family.
Elder Xun wrote a calligraphy piece and asked Mo Hua to present it as a gift to the Gu family.
Mo Hua thanked him sincerely.
As the day grew late, Mo Hua bid farewell to Elder Xun with a bow. When he raised his head after the bow, he met Elder Xun's deep and complex gaze, feeling a momentary sense of bewilderment.
"Elder, is something the matter?" Mo Hua asked in confusion.
Elder Xun looked at Mo Hua intently.
That gaze made Mo Hua feel as if Elder Xun was guessing something but was hesitant to speak due to certain causal factors.
Elder Xun had a heavy heart, and as he was about to ask something, he noticed that Mo Hua had grown taller and had the demeanor of a young man, which made him feel a bit wistful.
He had grown up so much...
His gaze was gentle and clear, deep and resolute. Although his face still carried a hint of childishness, his demeanor exuded a sense of composure.
There were some things that he could now shoulder on his own.
Or perhaps, since childhood, he had always been carrying a burden...
Elder Xun sighed softly, "It's nothing..."
He patted Mo Hua's shoulder and said in a gentle voice, "It's the New Year. Have fun."
Mo Hua nodded and smiled, "Elder, have a happy New Year. I'll be on my way now."
"Mm, good."
Mo Hua bowed and respectfully took his leave.
After Mo Hua left, Elder Xun continued to browse through the jade slips.
On one of the jade slips was written, "Directory of Prohibited Arts of Tai Xu Men."
Elder Xun stared at the directory of prohibited arts, deep in thought...
...
In Qingzhou City, at the Gu family residence, the courtyard was brightly lit with colorful lanterns.
Mo Hua and Yuer were releasing flower lanterns.
Yuer's face was flushed with excitement as he looked up at the bright red Yu Long Lantern that Mo Hua had made for him.
But when Yuer turned to look at Mo Hua, his expression suddenly became desolate. He lowered his eyelids and remained silent, looking pitiful.
Sensing Yuer's unusual mood, Mo Hua asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Yuer remained silent for a moment before asking in a small voice, "Brother Mo, are you leaving soon?"
Mo Hua was taken aback, "Who told you that?"
Yuer shook his head and then looked up at Mo Hua, "The big guys said that after graduation, they will leave Tai Xu Gate and leave Qianzhou. Are you leaving too, Brother Mo?"
The "big guy" Yuer mentioned was referring to the big and simple-minded guy.
Mo Hua looked at Yuer.
Yuer's eyes, illuminated by the lanterns above, sparkled with a strong reluctance to part.
Mo Hua didn't want to lie to him, so he replied softly, "It's possible."
Yuer became even more dejected.
Mo Hua ruffled his hair, "People experience joy and sorrow, gain and loss. This is a very normal thing. In the future, Yuer will also grow up and learn to rely on himself, strengthen his will, and become stronger..."
Mo Hua's gentle voice gradually soothed Yuer's heart.
Yuer gradually found courage in his heart and nodded seriously. Then, with a hint of reluctance, he asked, "Can I still see Brother Mo in the future?"
Mo Hua smiled and nodded, "Yes, I'll visit you when I have time. Or when you become powerful enough to travel across the Nine Provinces, we will definitely meet again."
"When I become powerful... we can meet again..." Yuer's eyes shone with anticipation, and he nodded repeatedly, "Brother Mo, I will definitely cultivate diligently. I'll come to find you in the future!"
Mo Hua smiled warmly, "Good!"
Yuer also smiled, and the countless lanterns in the sky illuminated his face, making him appear innocent and carefree.
Mo Hua felt relieved, but in the next moment, his soul trembled, resonating with the Dragon Soul, and his vision turned blood-red.
The lanterns in the sky shone on Yuer's face, making it appear as if it were stained with fresh blood.
The blood-red color vaguely formed a dragon shadow.
This blood-red dragon shadow, set against the red flames, swam across Yuer's face, then coiled and twisted, merging into Yuer's forehead and blending into his soul.
Mo Hua's heart trembled.
"...Dragon?"
"Is Yuer's blood... the Blood of the Dragon?"
(End of Chapter)
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