Chapter 1017: Zhang Lan

Elder Zhang turned his head and shot him a cold glare.

The green-robed cultivator immediately felt his scalp tingle, rose swiftly, and bowed apologetically: "This junior has been impolite."

Elder Feng smiled kindly.

Elder Zhang said: "This youngling is uncouth—Elder, please forgive him."

"No matter…" Elder Feng waved his hand, studied the green-robed cultivator, and asked: "Who is this?"

The green-robed cultivator bowed and replied: "This junior, Zhang Lan."

"Zhang Lan…"

Elder Feng paused, taking in the youth's green robes and distinguished bearing—his features relaxed yet steady, his age young, yet already possessing a Jin Dan cultivation. He couldn't help but marvel and praise:

"True to his name—a talent of grace and breadth, embracing the vast seas. The Zhang family truly produces talent after talent…"

Elder Zhang waved his hand. "Brother Feng flatters too much—this boy is always sloppy, never carries himself properly anywhere."

Of course, though he spoke thus, a trace of pride still flickered in his eyes.

He had watched this boy, Zhang Lan, grow up from childhood.

Previously, he had only thought the boy lazy, reckless, and lacking discipline—certainly unfit for great achievement.

But after venturing out to undergo trials, he had somehow changed—grown far more composed, able to settle his mind and cultivate diligently, his progress surging day by day, no longer wasting his exceptional talent.

Elder Feng poured tea for Elder Zhang.

The page also stepped forward respectfully and refilled Zhang Lan's cup.

"Drink your tea," Elder Feng said, gesturing with a "please" motion.

Elder Zhang nodded. "Thank you."

The two elders continued chatting—discussing sect transitions, old friendships, the customs of Qian Xue, the origins of prodigies, and more.

Other Zhang clan members stood nearby, listening in silence.

Zhang Lan also bowed his head respectfully, listening quietly—but inside, his thoughts churned like stormy waves.

Mo Hua?

Had he heard correctly?

Had Elder Feng just said the Qian Xue prodigy, the master of formation arts… was… Mo Hua?

Zhang Lan found it unbelievable.

This was the… Mo Hua he knew?

This was the Fifth-Rank Qian Xue province—a land of powerful clans and sects, where top-tier cultivators were as common as dogs, and prodigies walked the streets… and yet he still rose to prominence?

Not just any prominence—Foundation Establishment mid-stage, nineteen-stripe peak spiritual sense, overpowering the Four Great Sects to claim the title of Formation Master…

This was too absurd—even novels wouldn't dare write this.

Zhang Lan frowned, silently pondering:

"Same name, same person?"

"Is this Mo Hua not the Mo Hua I know?"

But that didn't feel right…

How could it be so coincidental that he encountered two "Mo Hua"s?

Besides, Elder Feng said this "Mo Hua" had powerful spiritual sense, excelled in spellcraft, and could conceal his presence…

This was clearly Mo Hua—that boy—but a "high-end" version, no, a "top-tier" version of Mo Hua.

But to say these two Mo Hua were the same person…

Zhang Lan still couldn't bring himself to believe it.

The more he thought, the harder it was to believe.

"I'll find a chance to check… whether this is truly that child, Mo Hua…"

Zhang Lan murmured inwardly.

On the other side, Elder Zhang and Elder Feng continued talking.

The path of cultivation is long, a cultivator's life stretches endlessly; with the Nine Continents vast and distant, many old cultivation friends often go decades, centuries, even millennia without meeting again.

Many close friends and companions, without realizing it, have already shared their final meeting in this lifetime.

Time is long, fortune and misfortune unpredictable, life and death forever apart.

Should they meet again, if fate denies them one last glance, they can only pour a cup of thin wine before the grave, offering quiet comfort.

Thus, when old friends reunite, the talk naturally flows longer.

Slowly, the years of estrangement faded, and their tones grew warmer.

Elder Feng, moved by memories, sighed:

"The Feng and Zhang families have been generations of allies. Back then, you and I studied together in Qian Xue, our spirits in harmony, our Jin Dan breakthroughs nearly simultaneous. Now, Elder, you have already achieved Liu Yuhua, ranked as a True Person, while this old bones of mine still struggles in late Jin Dan—truly shameful…"

Elder Zhang shook his head: "Brother Feng, you overstate it…"

"Heaven's way follows constant rules; fullness and emptiness have their limits; fortune and misfortune come in due time. One's cultivation path is full of twists and turns—whether smooth or rough, no one can predict."

"All we can do is act with goodness, without asking about the future."

"When the time is ripe, success comes naturally. If not, then cultivate further. Live until old, cultivate until old—the rest, let nature take its course."

"Success or failure, fortune or misfortune—none are within our control…"

Elder Feng pondered these words for a long while, his emotions settling, then nodded:

"Elder speaks wisely—I was too restless…"

The two continued discussing cultivation insights.

Elder Zhang detailed his experience of Liu Yuhua, speaking fully, leaving nothing unsaid.

Elder Feng listened intently, gaining much.

Unaware of the passage of time, the night grew deeper, and Elder Feng finally realized it, apologizing with a guilty expression:

"Old age has made me talk without end. I nearly forgot you've traveled far and should have rested long ago."

"For cultivators, a little fatigue means nothing," said Elder Zhang.

But though he said so, Elder Feng could not possibly be so clueless.

"The meditation chambers are all prepared; rest for now."

"At the hour of Wei tomorrow, I shall accompany you all to observe the Sword Discussion Assembly, to witness this grand spectacle of Qianxue and the brilliance of its prodigies…"

Elder Zhang nodded. "Thank you."

Then a page led everyone to their respective quarters to rest.

The Zhang family members bowed and thanked Elder Feng one by one.

After such a long journey, they were utterly exhausted, and as soon as their bodies touched the beds, they fell asleep.

Zhang Lan had been weary too, but upon hearing the name "Mo Hua," he lay on his bed, turning thoughts over and over, unable to sleep.

Thus, when he rose the next morning, Zhang Lan still looked sluggish and drained.

On any other day, Elder Zhang would have scolded him at length.

He would have told him that cultivators refine not only flesh and Qi, but also essence, energy, and spirit.

If the spirit is unsettled and the energy restless, if one does not know how to nurture life and character, how can one sincerely pursue the Dao?

But since they were guests of the Feng family, and the journey had indeed been grueling, Elder Zhang said nothing.

Moreover, today held an important matter.

They were going to observe the Sword Discussion.

Elder Feng had specially prepared a banquet of spiritual delicacies and rare wines to welcome Elder Zhang and the Zhang clan disciples, washing away their travel dust.

Afterwards, the group set out for Dao Mountain.

Along the way, the roads teemed with traffic, and Elder Feng recounted the famed sights and majestic mountain estates of Qianxue's borders.

Distant streaks of light shot across the sky; occasionally, True Persons soared through the air, stirring the clouds into turbulent seas.

The Zhang clan disciples were awestruck.

Even Elder Zhang sighed with emotion:

"Our Zhang family is a fourth-rank clan, dominant within Canglan's borders, with no fewer than ten True Persons among us—we are, by any measure, a regional powerhouse."

"But here in Qianxue, where True Persons fill the skies and noble houses feast with bells and cauldrons, we are but a dwarf beside a giant."

"Brother need not be so modest…" Elder Feng shook his head. "Qianxue is, after all, one of the rare great border regions—even among fifth-rank regions, it stands at the very top."

"Besides, as the saying goes: a strong dragon cannot suppress the earth-bound snake."

"No matter how many or how powerful the noble houses here in Qianxue, they remain confined to this one land."

"Unlike the Zhang family, which dominates its own territory."

Within Qianxue, there were many fourth- and fifth-rank clans.

But when anything becomes too numerous, it loses its value.

Many ordinary fifth-rank clans in Qianxue, in terms of power and influence, might not even rival the fourth-rank clans of the Nine Provinces—those that dwell in remote corners, suppress entire regions, and maintain ancient lineages.

Far from the Emperor, distant lands hold greater authority.

That is the truth.

Thus, though the Zhang family is fourth-rank and not a strong dragon, it is a mighty "earth-bound snake"—and the only one that dominates its territory.

In Qianxue, the Zhang family may seem insignificant.

But if they returned to the Zhang family's territory in Kanzhou, their orders might carry more weight than imperial edicts from the Dao Court.

The cultivation world is vast; more friends mean more paths.

Even if Elder Feng and Elder Zhang had no personal ties, neither dared to slight the Zhang family.

Moreover, the Zhang family, as a fourth-rank clan, has a regional limit.

Within the fourth-rank region, the Zhang family has no Void-Seeking elders.

But that does not mean there are no Void-Seeking ancestral elders of the Zhang family in seclusion within other fifth-rank regions, among sects, clans, or sacred mountains and great rivers.

The Zhang family simply remains discreet and never reveals them.

Along the way, the two exchanged a few more pleasantries, discussing the splendors of Qianxue; an hour later, they entered Dao Mountain.

At this moment, Dao Mountain was filled with cultivators.

Voices roared like a boiling sea; stepping into the mountain felt like entering an ocean of humanity, filling one with awe.

"Brother Zhang, follow me."

Elder Feng led the way; Elder Zhang and the others followed.

"It's quite coincidental…" Elder Feng said as they walked, his tone proud. "Today, one of our Feng clan disciples is participating in the Sword Discussion under the Xiaoyao Sect. He is the most gifted in spirit roots and highest in comprehension among our generation."

"His opponent is the Grand Void Gate—one of the Eight Great Sects. Within Grand Void Gate lies the sword prodigy Linghu Xiao, and also… the one I mentioned earlier: the array master Mo Hua, who delights in using low-grade spells to toy with others—talented but lacking virtue."

"Oh?" Elder Zhang's eyes brightened slightly as he nodded. "If that is so, then this journey is truly worthwhile."

He then turned to the group of Zhang clan disciples and warned them:

"I brought you to Qianxue to show you this Sword Discussion Assembly, to show you what true prodigy rivalry looks like."

"You are all somewhat gifted within our clan, but placed against the vast Nine Provinces and the splendor of Qianxue, your talents are like fireflies at noon—utterly insignificant."

"Beyond the heavens lie higher heavens; beyond people stand greater people."

"Always remain humble, observe carefully, and learn well." He spoke these words chiefly to the several Foundation Establishment disciples among the Zhang clan with the finest talents.

Jin Dan cultivator Zhang Lan was not among them.

Yet as Elder Zhang spoke, his peripheral gaze flickered toward Zhang Lan—clearly, he was hinting at him indirectly.

"Yes, Elder Zhang."

The Zhang family disciples all bowed their hands in greeting.

Zhang Lan's expression was complex, but he could only follow the others and bow.

Yet upon hearing that the Feng family's prodigy would duel the "Mo Hua" in swordplay, Zhang Lan suddenly felt anticipation—but also an inexplicable sense of tension.

The viewing platform for the Qianxue Sword Debate was vast, tier upon tier.

At this moment, the viewing platform was filled entirely with cultivators.

Different cultivators had different viewing sections.

External cultivators, external sects and clans, Qianxue's local cultivators, local clans, elders and disciples of Qianxue's various sects, and even the special VIP seats on the upper tiers—all had their own designated areas.

The crowd was immense, yet sharply divided.

The Feng family, being a clan of Xunzhou, was technically an external clan, but maintained close ties with the Xiaoyao Sect; their cultivation methods were exchanged, and they shared resources. Thanks to this relationship, the Feng family had a designated viewing seat on the Lun Dao Mountain.

Elder Feng led the group of Zhang's senior elder and others to the Feng family's seating area, and everyone took their seats in turn.

Elder Feng then ordered servants to bring fruits, tea, and water, offering generous hospitality.

Senior Elder Zhang thanked him, after which everyone sat comfortably, sipping tea and waiting quietly for the sword debate to begin.

After three rounds of tea, a flash of light suddenly appeared on the horizon.

The Fangtian Painting Shadow stretched across heaven and earth, like a colossal ink-and-color painting slowly unfurling before them.

The Zhang family looked up, deeply awestruck.

Such a massive spiritual artifact was truly something they had never seen in their lives.

After a while, the colors of the Fangtian Painting Shadow coalesced, revealing mountain ranges, rivers, and the prodigies.

"It's begun…"

Elder Feng said.

On the Fangtian Painting Shadow, the scene shifted abruptly. Disciples of various sects, according to different competition formats, battled each other in swordplay and spellcraft—swordlight interwove, spells flew, some cultivators clashed with fists and feet, shaking the earth and shattering the ground…

Different sects, different lineages, different Dao methods—all the prodigies together wove a dazzling tapestry of sword debate.

The Zhang family watched, eyes fixed, utterly amazed.

Senior Elder Zhang could not help but sigh: "The Qianxue region truly produces talent in abundance…"

Elder Feng nodded in agreement:

"This is the Tian Xuanzi Sword Debate. Those who have advanced to this stage are no longer unknowns—they are already the 'backbone' of their respective sects."

"But these are merely appetizers. The next round will be the real show."

"Xiaoyao Sect versus Grand Void Gate."

"The most gifted disciple of my Feng family will face off against the prodigy of Grand Void Gate."

Elder Feng said with satisfaction.

Senior Elder Zhang nodded, his expression growing ever more eager.

Behind him, Zhang Lan grew increasingly tense without realizing it.

The sword debate continued.

Senior Elder Zhang and Elder Feng continued their casual conversation.

But Zhang Lan paid no attention—he kept his gaze fixed on the massive Fangtian Painting Shadow, waiting for that disciple to appear, to confirm his suspicion.

After waiting for what felt like an eternity, the sword debates on the Fangtian Painting Shadow gradually concluded.

The participating disciples withdrew one by one.

Finally, the Fangtian Painting Shadow blurred, its colors bleeding, then reformed to reveal a new set of duel arenas.

It also revealed the figures of another group of sect prodigies.

Elder Feng, wearing a proud smile, pointed to one of the images:

"Brother Dao, the leader among those Xiaoyao Sect disciples in white robes is my Feng family's prodigy—Feng Zichen."

Senior Elder Zhang followed his gaze and saw indeed a young boy in white, standing with sword in hand, elegant as the wind, his arched brows and starlit eyes brimming with youthful boldness and vigor.

"A graceful youth, outstanding and extraordinary," Senior Elder Zhang sincerely praised.

Elder Feng, honored, smiled modestly: "Brother Dao, you flatter me."

Yet as the two men praised the Feng family's prodigy of Xiaoyao Sect,

Zhang Lan's gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, turned to the other side.

To the opposite side of Xiaoyao Sect, among the Grand Void Gate's ranks, to the unfamiliar yet familiar face of a short boy standing at the center of five, shielded by his companions…

Eyebrows and eyes like a painted scroll, delicate and untainted by dust.

Eyes like deep pools, bright yet profound.

His aura was warm and endearing, exuding calmness, composure, and a touch of liveliness and cunning…

In an instant, Zhang Lan's scalp tingled, his heart surging like boiling water.

"Mo Hua…"

Memories from Xiancheng flooded his mind like a tide.

The first time they met—that child, crouched over a food stall, dressed plainly, strikingly handsome, poring over an obscure array scripture, nearly making him lose face…

That child who drank and ate meat with him.

That brat who accidentally broke into Great Heishan and caused a major commotion.

That prodigy with astonishing talent who rescued the helpless and aided the distressed.

They had scoured mountains together, hunted demonic cultivators, besieged bandit cultivators, tricked and killed Gu Diansi… even built great arrays together to fight great demons…

Every single memory surged into his mind at once.

In these recollections, the lively, mischievous figure layered upon itself, finally merging into one—with the slender, refined boy now visible on the Fangtian Painting Shadow.

Mo Hua.

Zhang Lan's chest tightened for a moment, a faint sour ache rising in his heart.

He had not expected that, after parting at Xiancheng, ten years without seeing Mo Hua, he would meet him again in this way.

Zhang Lan took a deep breath, finding it hard to believe.

He pinched his thigh hard.

It hurt.

It wasn't a dream…

Zhang Lan slowly let out a breath.

On the other side, Elder Feng also began to mention Mo Hua:

"On the opposing side, the Grand Void Sect's strongest disciple is the sword-path youth at the very front—Linghu Xiao."

"Linghu Xiao was originally a sword-path genius unseen for several hundred years within the Chong Void Sect. Later, when the three sects merged, he was incorporated into the Grand Void Sect—one could say the Grand Void Sect picked up a bargain."

"And behind Linghu Xiao, the shortest one—that is the 'Mo Hua' I mentioned to you earlier, Dao Brother…"

"This boy is extremely clever, and his divine sense is extremely strong."

"His talent for formations is even higher."

"Unfortunately… his reputation is extremely poor…"

Elder Zhang did not understand. "Why is his reputation so poor?"

Elder Feng said, "His temperament is vile; he loves to toy with people using low-level spells. He is also extremely treacherous, always using deviant arts to trap people, using tricky spells to disgust them."

"He has a bit of talent, but not a shred of virtue to be seen."

"The worst of all is that this boy especially loves killing people with the 'Fireball Spell,' taking pleasure in humiliating others…"

"Such a thing exists…?" Elder Zhang exclaimed. "This boy is truly shameless."

Zhang Lan: "…"

If it weren't for the difference in seniority, making it improper to speak up casually, he would certainly have said a word or two in Mo Hua's defense, to clear his name.

Could Mo Hua really be such a person?

Mo Hua, he…

Zhang Lan froze slightly, fell into thought, and then fell into silence.

After thinking it over again and again, he discovered…

Mo Hua seemed… to actually be exactly that kind of person?

From his own perspective, Mo Hua was clearly a good child, a good youth—only that sometimes he acted outside the norm, which was a bit of a headache.

But from an outsider's perspective, all that was left was "headache."

And at this moment, those speaking ill of Mo Hua were clearly not only Elder Feng. Zhang Lan pricked up his ears and heard the surrounding cultivators, righteous and indignant:

"This Mo Hua is truly despicable and shameless…"

"How many rounds has he played that Concealment Spell of his? Can't anyone do something about him?"

"A perfectly fine Qianxue Sword Discussion, where prodigies vie for supremacy, has somehow been turned into 'hide-and-seek' by him—does that even make sense?"

"Exactly!"

"It's lamentable that since the sword discussion began, countless sect prodigies and young heroes have all fallen to this despicable villain's hands—truly hateful!"

"Is my face, Fairy Lu's, something he can blast with a Fireball Spell?!"

"Someone come, cut down this monster with one sword, and I'll swear brotherhood with him on the spot."

"Big brother won't do—I'll swear him my adoptive father…"

……

Zhang Lan's expression was silent, speechless for a long while, yet in his heart he was considering:

From now on, should he just pretend not to know Mo Hua?

And just at this moment, the disciples of both sides took their positions, and the sword discussion began.

Elder Feng's words held expectation: "This boy Mo Hua is truly too hated; previously, countless talented disciples all fell at his hands."

"But today is different. This boy's schemes have run their course, and he is due for bad luck. Brother Zhang…"

Elder Feng looked toward Elder Zhang, his tone impassioned:

"Today, watch how my Feng family's prodigy cuts this boy down beneath his sword, wins thunderous applause, and fulfills the hopes of all."

Elder Zhang nodded gladly: "That would be excellent!"

Zhang Lan instinctively shrank back, lips tightly sealed, not daring to utter a single word.

(End of chapter)