Chapter 989: The Storm Begins
Chapter 989: The Storm Begins
Yuer... is the Yelong of Dahuang?!
Mo Hua's gaze slightly intensified.
But how is this possible?
Isn't he the child of the Shangguan and Wenren families? How could he have the bloodline of the Yelong of Dahuang? But the resonance of the dragon soul should not be wrong.
In Mo Hua's divine soul, there was an ancient dragon's roar, trembling softly.
This was the ancient dragon soul from the Dahuang Dragon Emperor that he had swallowed earlier and had not yet fully digested.
Now, this dragon soul resonated with Yuer, allowing Mo Hua to see traces of the Yelong bloodline on Yuer's face.
Moreover, this shadow of the Yelong was blood-red.
Within the blood shadow, there was a strong sense of ill omen, hovering between life and death, foreshadowing the hardships and suffering that the owner of the dragon shadow would face throughout their life.
Mo Hua's eyebrows furrowed.
"Brother Mo?" The innocent Yuer noticed Mo Hua's solemn expression and asked with concern, "What happened?"
Mo Hua gradually suppressed his emotions, patted Yuer's head, and spoke gently, "It's nothing... nothing will happen..."
Yuer seemed to especially enjoy Mo Hua touching her head, and she smiled happily, appearing carefree.
However, on her innocent face, the red dragon shadow carried a bloody aura and roared ferociously at Mo Hua before merging into Yuer's forehead.
Mo Hua's gaze turned slightly cold.
...
After that, it was the Gu family's New Year's Eve dinner.
This year's banquet was also quite grand.
However, compared to previous years, it was a bit quieter.
Due to the incident at Gu Shan, the Gu family and the Shen family had developed a grudge.
The root of this grudge lay with the Tai Xu Gate, and the Gu family's involvement was not insignificant.
But the Shen family held a high position and also controlled the Qian Dao Zong. Many cultivation families, if they wanted to send their disciples to Qian Dao Zong, had to consider the Shen family's attitude.
They dared not offend the Shen family, but they also wouldn't go as far as to offend the Gu family.
Therefore, for the Gu family's New Year's Eve dinner, many families only sent gifts and did not dare to visit in person.
Noble families valued their interests, and this was a normal occurrence.
Everyone has their moments of indecision, but as long as they don't openly confront each other, they can still maintain a good relationship in the future.
Although the Gu family was known for its integrity, they were not ignorant of the ways of the world and didn't hold grudges.
Mo Hua, even more so, didn't care about such matters.
He only cared about whether he could eat well and be full.
He paid no attention to the social interactions and exchanges of favors among the noble families, as they had nothing to do with him.
Thus, amidst the lively and harmonious atmosphere, Mo Hua enjoyed a New Year's Eve dinner. After the meal, he strolled around the courtyard as usual to aid digestion, greeted a group of elders, collected a pile of New Year gifts, and then discussed Uncle Gu's life matters with Elder Gu Hong before preparing to return to the sect.
Wenren Wan brought Yuer to see him off.
"Here are some cakes, fruit wine, and some spiritual meat and food. These are all your favorites. The food in the sect is usually not great, and you work hard in your formation cultivation. Eat more good food to nourish your body."
Wenren Wan's voice was gentle and caring.
Mo Hua smiled and thanked her, "Thank you, Aunt Wan."
Yuer waved goodbye to Mo Hua reluctantly.
The next day, she would accompany her mother back to the Shangguan family to pay respects to their ancestors, and she wouldn't be able to return to the Tai Xu Gate until after the New Year.
Mo Hua wouldn't see Yuer for over ten days.
Mo Hua took out the small gift he had prepared for Yuer.
Some of these gifts were toys he had made himself using formations.
With these, Yuer would have new toys to play with every day, even after returning to the Shangguan family.
The other part was a formation homework assignment that Mo Hua had prepared for Yuer.
Whenever she started doing her homework, Yuer wouldn't have any other thoughts to feel sad.
Yuer was both happy and worried, her emotions were complicated.
After some small talk, Mo Hua was about to leave when a commotion arose in the distance. A procession of luxurious carriages arrived and stopped at the entrance of the Gu family.
A group of cultivators descended from the carriages.
The leader, dressed in a luxurious robe, had a deep aura, half-white hair, and prominent frown lines.
He walked over, bringing with him a chill.
The warm atmosphere was instantly shattered.
Wenren Wan's expression changed slightly, and Yuer also felt a bit scared, unconsciously clutching Wenren Wan's sleeve.
As the visitor approached, Wenren Wan had no choice but to greet him, performing a half-bow, "Greetings, Elder Shangguan."
Mo Hua also recognized him.
This half-white-haired elder was named Shangguan Wang, the actual authority figure of the Shangguan family, with a Yu Hua cultivation base.
It was said that Shangguan Wang had once competed for the position of the Shangguan family head but lost. As a result, he held some grudges against Shangguan Ce, Shangguan Yi, and even Yuer's branch of the family, targeting them in various matters.
Mo Hua didn't like him either, so he didn't greet him.
Shangguan Wang glanced at Mo Hua, and his eyes revealed a trace of unconcealed displeasure, as well as a hint of apprehension.
During the Formation Assembly, he had witnessed Mo Hua, with his mid-Zhujian cultivation, overpowering the late-Zhujian geniuses of the four major sects. Mo Hua had eventually solved the entire formation question bank, winning the first place in formations with an overwhelming advantage.
This young man was extraordinary.
Therefore, despite Shangguan Wang's Yu Hua cultivation and Mo Hua's Zhujian cultivation, Shangguan Wang could only pretend not to notice Mo Hua's "rudeness."
Shangguan Wang walked past Mo Hua and approached Wenren Wan, saying indifferently, "By the order of the family head, tomorrow I will escort the young lady and Young Master Yu back to the clan."
"Thank you, Elder Shangguan," Wenren Wan replied.
Shangguan Wang looked at Yuer intently and lightly acknowledged with an "En" before entering the Gu family residence.
Mo Hua watched Shangguan Wang's departing figure, feeling a sense of dissonance for some reason.
But he couldn't pinpoint the source of this dissonance.
After Shangguan Wang entered the Gu family residence, there was another round of greetings and farewells, and Mo Hua took his leave.
Wenren Wan reminded him to be careful on his journey.
Yuer waved goodbye to him.
Mo Hua smiled and waved back, then boarded the carriage and began his journey back to the Tai Xu Gate.
...
In the Qian Xue Zhou Jie.
At the luxurious Shen family mansion.
The Gu family's New Year celebration was lively.
In contrast, the Shen family's New Year was much quieter and more oppressive.
In the vast mansion, despite the bright lights, an eerie silence permeated the air.
The elders of the sect came and went, their faces grim.
The disciples were anxious, afraid to speak loudly.
Occasionally, the sound of shattering wine glasses and scolding voices echoed.
The grand hall, adorned with luxurious splendor, hosted a hurriedly concluded New Year's banquet.
As the guests dispersed, only the Shen family's patriarch remained, kneeling humbly on the steps, his forehead touching the cold floor as he sought forgiveness from the elder.
As the head of the family, he held the power and prestige of the prestigious fifth-grade aristocratic family, but he also bore the heavy burden of responsibility.
When trouble arose, he alone had to weather the storm.
In the empty hall, the Shen family patriarch, who was accustomed to receiving respect and kneeling from others, now knelt meekly, his forehead pressed against the cold floor, seeking forgiveness from the elder.
The Shen family elder, gazing down at the kneeling patriarch, maintained a calm expression, but his eyes were terrifyingly fierce.
Finally, he narrowed his eyes slightly, suppressing his menacing aura, and said slowly, "Stand up."
Relieved, the Shen family patriarch took a deep breath, bowed his head to the ground, and thanked him, "Thank you, Elder, for your mercy."
"Have you found out everything?" asked the Shen family elder.
"Yes," the Shen family patriarch replied in a low voice, "The cause of this incident was a disciple of Tai Xu Gate who was captured by a group of tomb raiders and taken into the burial grounds of Gu Shan."
"After that, an elder named Xun Zi You from Tai Xu Gate, along with our Shen family's Elder Shen Shou Xing, entered Gu Shan, leading to a series of subsequent twists and turns..."
"After this incident, someone saw that Elder Xun Zi You from Tai Xu Gate was still alive."
"No one saw how he got out of Gu Shan, but he did escape with his life, and he's acting as if nothing happened, teaching and preaching within Tai Xu Gate."
"As for the Tai Xu Gate disciple who was captured..."
"I had some suspicions about this disciple's identity, but I never had any evidence. Tai Xu Gate is extremely secretive, and even the Dao Court officials keep their mouths shut."
"After more than a month of effort and numerous connections, we finally obtained some evidence and confirmed his identity."
"The Tai Xu Gate disciple involved in the Gu Shan incident is named Mo Hua..."
Upon hearing this, the Shen family elder's eyes widened slightly, "You mean..."
"Yes, it's the Tai Xu Gate's... that Zhen Dao Kui Shou," the Shen family patriarch confirmed.
The Shen family elder's expression remained calm, showing no signs of joy or anger.
Unsure of what the elder was thinking, the Shen family patriarch continued, "This incident was likely orchestrated by Tai Xu Gate, using a disciple as bait to expose our Shen family's vulnerabilities and put us on the chopping block, attracting the attention of other wolves who would covet and erode our family's foundation..."
...
For the Gu Shan incident, the Shen family had to make sacrifices, giving up countless spiritual mines, spiritual fields, spirit stones, and sect interests, as well as various positions of power within the Shen family's associated forces.
No one knew the extent of these sacrifices better than the Shen family patriarch.
Every time he thought about it, the Shen family patriarch's heart bled.
His resentment towards Tai Xu Gate grew deeper.
However, the Shen family patriarch also had a question, so he asked, "This Mo Hua is the Zhen Dao Kui Shou and a once-in-a-century genius in formation arts. Why would Tai Xu Gate use him as bait? Aren't they afraid he might die in Gu Shan?"
If Mo Hua died, with Tai Xu Gate's foundation in formation arts, they might never reclaim the top spot in formation arts in this lifetime.
Could they must not value this disciple very much.
The Shen family patriarch frowned, "Why would a small foundation-building disciple go to Gu Shan? What reason could he have for getting involved in this mess?"
"Does this kid have some ulterior motive?"
The Shen family elder paused for a moment before saying, "This is a grand game, and behind it is a Dong Xiu Jing elder pulling the strings."
"In this game, everyone you see is just a pawn."
"Even the Jin Dan Jian Xiu named Xun Zi You is no exception, let alone this small foundation-building disciple."
"Don't always consider what the pawns are thinking."
The Shen family elder looked at the Shen family patriarch, his eyes deep, "As the patriarch, you must have the vision of a patriarch."
"You need to know who you're playing against."
"Viewing the game from behind the scenes, from the perspective of the elder, will give you a different perspective."
"When you reach the Dong Xiu Jing realm, you'll have the true vision to become the elder of our Shen family..."
"If your vision is shortsighted, you'll only see the pawns and not even know who you're playing against. Eventually, you'll be manipulated by others."
The Shen family patriarch trembled with gratitude upon hearing these words.
The elder still had expectations of him.
Kneeling, the Shen family patriarch said, "Thank you, Elder, for your guidance. I will remember your words."
The Shen family elder nodded slightly, then changed the topic, "How much do you know about the Zhi Zhou incident?"
As the Shen family patriarch was about to stand up, he heard the question and knelt down again, replying earnestly, "It's my fault, Elder. My son and the others... they're young and reckless, craving the taste of Zhi Zhou. They caused a ruckus, damaging our family's reputation..."
The Shen family patriarch felt uneasy, expecting the elder to reprimand him, but the elder shook his head, "This might not be a bad thing."
The Shen family patriarch frowned, "Elder... you..."
The Shen family elder spoke sternly, "I'd rather they taste the pleasures of the flesh, see through the allure of this world's women, and realize the degradation and lowliness of their desires. From then on, they'll focus on their cultivation and the Dao."
"It's also to prevent them from being led astray by lowly-born women with only looks to offer, causing them to lose their hearts and fall into ruin, becoming useless in the end."
"A cultivator should focus solely on their cultivation, seeking the mighty power of the heavens and striving for immortality."
"Those who indulge in fleeting pleasures and romantic entanglements will only become fodder for the great calamity."
"This is something you must teach him well."
The Shen family patriarch bowed deeply, "Yes."
"Alright, you may leave now," the Shen family ancestor said. "After you go, send for Lin Shu."
The Shen family patriarch heaved a sigh of relief, bowed respectfully once more, and only then did he slowly stand up. "May the ancestor be blessed with longevity and prosperity."
The Shen family patriarch withdrew.
Moments later, a remarkable young man entered the room and bowed respectfully, "Great-great-grandson Shen Lin Shu pays his respects to the ancestor."
The young man exuded a confident and unyielding aura.
The Shen family ancestor's eyes gleamed with a peculiar light as he looked at Shen Lin Shu, as if seeing his younger self in him.
"Lin Shu..." The Shen family ancestor's expression softened.
"Ancestor," Shen Lin Shu replied.
"Soon, the Sword Discussion Assembly will take place."
"Yes," Shen Lin Shu's eyes shone with determination, his voice firm. "This time, I will surely bring glory to the Qian Dao Zong, the Shen family, and you, ancestor, by claiming the top spot in the Sword Discussion Assembly!"
The Shen family ancestor shook his head, "This top spot is not for Qian Dao Zong, not for the Shen family, and not for me. It's for you to claim for yourself."
"Your talent, innate gifts, and intelligence are all exceptional. You only lack this one opportunity to prove yourself."
"By claiming the top spot in the Sword Discussion Assembly, you will soar to the heavens, reaching the pinnacle of the clouds."
Shen Lin Shu's eyes gleamed with determination, but he still said, "Ancestor, you have shown me favor, and the Shen family has nurtured me. Qian Dao Zong has taught me, and now, as your great-great-grandson, I have achieved success in my cultivation. I will not let you down, nor will I disappoint the family and the sect that have cultivated me."
The Shen family ancestor nodded with satisfaction, "You are more promising than your father. Don't let me down."
"Rest assured, ancestor," Shen Lin Shu assured him.
"You may go now and continue your cultivation."
"Yes, great-great-grandson takes his leave."
Shen Lin Shu bowed respectfully and then withdrew.
The Shen family ancestor silently watched Shen Lin Shu's departing figure.
He gazed upon his tall and handsome great-great-grandson, filled with vibrant vitality and a masculine aura, possessing abundant spiritual power, and an innate air of nobility, standing above the masses like a "Qilin." His heart swelled with deep affection.
This was the true genius of the Shen family.
This was the true pride of the heavens.
This was the purest bloodline of his own, the ancestor of the Dong Xiu realm.
He was angry about the incident with the Zhi Zhou.
His anger was not directed at Shen Lin Shu's misconduct, but at the audacity of those lowly women. How dare they presume to be worthy of his great-great-grandson's "blessing"? How dare those of low birth even think of it?
The Shen family ancestor's expression darkened momentarily, but soon calmed down, and his entire being became serene once more.
As he thought of Shen Lin Shu, another name came to mind:
"Mo Hua..."
This disciple named Mo Hua had once attempted to join Qian Dao Zong with an ancient token of entry a few years ago.
But he was rejected.
The Shen family ancestor couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
He felt a sense of loss, not for Mo Hua himself, but for the missed opportunity to gain an advantage.
If he had accepted Mo Hua back then, even if it was just as a servant or an unnamed disciple outside the gates, it would have been better than letting him join Tai Xu Men. In Qian Dao Zong, among nearly a thousand gifted cultivators, Mo Hua would have felt inferior, his cultivation spirit diminished, and eventually, he would have faded into obscurity...
It would have been better than handing him over to Tai Xu Men.
If it weren't for Mo Hua, the sect's reform would have been a done deal by now, without all these complications and unexpected twists.
It wouldn't have taken until this assembly to determine the fate of the sect.
And it certainly wouldn't have exposed the secrets of the Shen family's Gu Shan.
Amidst the turbulent undercurrents, the Shen family had faced a crisis, forcing them to make difficult decisions and sacrifice much.
And even with his early detection and swift action, the situation was still dire.
If he had delayed any further, the Shen family would have undoubtedly faced a calamity, teetering on the brink of destruction.
Now, the Shen family ancestor knew in his heart that Mo Hua's involvement was no coincidence.
The old ancestor of Tai Xu Men, Xun Lao Zu, must have been aware of this as well.
Precisely because of his knowledge that he used Mo Hua as a pawn in his grand scheme, a tool to challenge Qian Dao Zong, and even the reform of the four great sects.
The Shen family ancestor sighed inwardly.
Misfortune and fortune are intertwined; blessings and curses are two sides of the same coin.
For Qian Dao Zong, Mo Hua was initially a blessing, but by rejecting him, it turned into a curse.
The twists of fate were indeed profound.
The old ancestor of Tai Xu Men, Xun Lao Zu, lived up to his reputation as a master strategist. He had taken a mediocre disciple with a low-grade spiritual root and molded him into the leader of the Formation Path, forging him into a sharp sword aimed at Qian Dao Zong.
"But this is where it ends..."
The Shen family ancestor pondered.
Tai Xu Men, despite its rich heritage, lacked the depth of the other sects. Even with the merger of the three sects, most of the outstanding disciples had left, leaving behind only average cultivators.
In the Qian Xue Lun Jian Da Hui, the sword was held in the highest regard, and the sword discussion was the main event.
This was a fatal weakness for Tai Xu Men.
And even if Mo Hua excelled in formations, he could only claim the top spot in the formation discussion.
"A single victory in the formation discussion won't save your Tai Xu Men from the merger of the three sects..."
The Shen family ancestor smiled faintly, his gaze turning cold.
...
After returning to Tai Xu Men, Mo Hua resumed his daily cultivation.
Time passed, and another year came to a close.
Mo Hua was about to enter his ninth year at Tai Xu Men.
This would be his final year of cultivation and seeking the Dao at Tai Xu Men.
And in this year, he would finally participate in the grandest event of the Qian Xue Zhou Jie:
The Qian Xue Lun Jian Da Hui.
(End of Chapter)
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