Chapter 1261: The Dao Lineage of Divine Awareness

Thereafter, the Zhu Que Mountain Buluotong Alliance formally launched its decisive battle against the Wu Jiao tribe's army.

Dan Lie, the great chieftain of the Dan Que tribe and Buluoda Alliance leader, oversaw the entire war effort, coordinating the barbarian troops of various tribes in countless battles across the vast, desolate wilderness.

Countless battles bloomed and vanished like bloody lotuses upon the land.

This was not what Mo Hua wished to see.

War brought death and injury; the spreading blood qi filled the sky, making the deathly aura throughout the Great Wilderness even heavier.

Mo Hua could see a massive "Omen of Death" taking shape, his worries deepening, yet he had no good solution.

For Dan Zhu's matter, he, as "Mr.," could guide.

For the Shu Gu tribe's matter, he, as "Lord Wuzhu," could decide.

But this current war involved the entire Great Third Grade mountain realm, entangled multiple great barbarian tribes, and drew the intervention of two true Jin Dan late-stage Wang Ting Lord Wuzhu.

These were far beyond the scope of his current strength to lead or even influence.

He could only play the role of a "tool," stoking the flames of war.

The overall strategic direction was managed by the Buluoda Alliance leader and the major chieftains.

Matters of the divine shaman level were handled by the true Lord Wuzhu: Lord Yan Zhu and Lord Qing Zhu.

Mo Hua, this "fake" Lord Wuzhu, had no right to interfere.

Of course, the main reason was that Lord Yan Zhu and Lord Qing Zhu wouldn't take him along.

But Mo Hua wasn't without tasks—he still did his old trade: array crafting.

Even in Qian Xuezhou, a realm with ancient lineage and prodigies aplenty, his array skills could crush three generations, dominate the Si Sect, and tower over the Eight Gates and Twelve Schools, leaving the hundred Qian Xue sects far behind.

In this remote, backward wilderness, it went without saying.

He could draw with his eyes closed and still far outshine others.

But he had to disguise the origin of his arrays—attribute them to "divine bestowal," alter their formats, and integrate variations of barbarian sacred patterns, to conceal the true roots of his arrays and prevent anyone from recognizing his Jiuzhou lineage.

This seemed complex, but to Mo Hua, it was not difficult.

If it came to tampering with arrays, manipulating them—especially in arrays below third grade—Mo Hua was unquestionably a peerless "Master."

level.

Back then, when he slipped tricks into the Huang Tian Blood Sacrifice Array, even the cunning Mr. Tu failed to notice—let alone these barbarian cultivators with crude array skills.

Lord Yan Zhu and Lord Qing Zhu did possess some mastery of sacred patterns, but their foundation was still vastly inferior to Mo Hua's.

Thus, Mo Hua naturally became the "Chief Array Master" of this war against the Wu Jiao tribe, overseeing the construction of all arrays.

No one openly acknowledged his title, yet given Mo Hua's "divinely bestowed" array prowess, no one dared object.

Any array problem, no matter how thorny or unsolvable, could be resolved when Mo Hua simply said, "I'll ask the Divine Lord," then returned to his room to "pray," and a solution appeared.

Thereafter, every array issue was effortlessly resolved.

Others simply could not comprehend it.

Even Lord Yan Zhu and Lord Qing Zhu, watching Mo Hua draw complex sacred patterns as easily as eating and drinking, said nothing outwardly, but were deeply shaken inside.

Dao cultivation strength is the foundation of everything.

When one's strength is truly immense, absurdly so, no one dares challenge your position.

Though they said nothing aloud, everyone knew it in their hearts.

And in a certain sense, Mo Hua's array crafting was also serving the various tribes, the major chieftains, and even these two Wang Ting Lord Wuzhu.

He not only bore hardship but also earned immense merit.

Thus, no one would obstruct Mo Hua.

Within just a month, Mo Hua secretly, and in reality, seized full control over the design and construction of all arrays within the Zhu Que Mountain tribal alliance's war effort.

This power was crucial; some had tried to wrest it from him, but few could even understand his arrays, and those few had enough self-awareness to back off.

Moreover, amid the chaos of war, these tribes had more pressing matters to consider.

As long as the arrays met their expectations, they wouldn't pry further.

Thus, as the war progressed, Mo Hua's array constructions gradually improved.

Mo Hua, meanwhile, faithfully served as the "tool" of array crafting, steadily laying the groundwork for the tribal alliance's victory and advancing the course of events.

One day, after completing an array, Mo Hua glanced down at the group of shaman cultivators drawing arrays like "ants," silently calculating.

The Great Wilderness's array heritage was not sophisticated.

Especially among the lowest-tier small tribes, anyone who could sketch a few sacred patterns was considered remarkable.

Worse than the scattered cultivators of Tong Xiancheng.

But the Dan Que, Yan Yi, and Bi Fang tribes were different.

They truly cultivated a group of shaman cultivators with notable array expertise.

These individuals could understand Mo Hua's array blueprints and construct arrays according to his intentions.

Objectively speaking, they were already "experts."

Initially, some shaman cultivators resisted Mo Hua, but after he personally drew several arrays before them, they fell silent.

One drawing, no sound.

Words can deceive, but arrays cannot.

To shaman cultivators who also sought the essence of arrays, the arrays themselves were the most persuasive thing.

Thus, Mo Hua earned their "respect" and "admiration."

Regardless of their tribe, anyone who had seen Mo Hua draw arrays would respectfully address him as "Master Wu."

They revered him not as Lord Wuzhu, but as an array master.

Mo Hua, meanwhile, kept observing, searching for suitable "talents" he could later recruit for his own use.

Had it not been for the tribal war and the alliance against the Wu Jiao tribe, he could never have encountered so many shaman cultivators from so many tribes at once.

It's even less likely that, under the guise of an "Alliance Meeting," he would gather these sorcerers from disparate origins to serve his own ends.

It's also impossible to make them slowly come to believe in him through subtle influence.

This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.

Mo Hua will not let it slip away.

His future schemes will inevitably involve large-scale arrays.

And large-scale arrays will inevitably require many array masters to collaborate.

These must be planned for early.

To accomplish great deeds, one must unite all possible forces.

No matter which tribe or which deity these sorcerers worship, if the chance arises, he can draw them into his fold and make them serve him.

These are talents, and also powerful manpower.

On the high platform, Mo Hua looked down and silently memorized every sorcerer who drew arrays.

As he watched, Mo Hua's expression suddenly changed; he straightened his posture and turned his head behind him.

Behind him stood a man, his body tattooed with blazing fire, Gao Daweiwu, his aura extraordinary.

It was Lord Yan Zhu.

Seeing Mo Hua turn his head, Lord Yan Zhu was slightly startled. "You sensed me?"

Mo Hua's gaze hardened, but he said nothing.

A stranger—even one at the late Foundation Establishment realm—could not possibly approach within ten zhang of him without his awareness.

For a Jin Dan cultivator, ten zhang is already dangerously close.

Yet this Lord Yan Zhu had silently stepped within three zhang behind him, proving not only his profound spiritual sense, but also his exceptional skill in spiritual manipulation.

Of course, there is another possibility: he harbored no "malice."

Because of his anomalous destiny, Mo Hua is not only sensitive to the aura of "life," but even more acute in perceiving malice, especially "murderous intent."

Lord Yan Zhu's ability to reach behind him proves he harbored no "murderous intent."

Mo Hua silently observed Lord Yan Zhu.

Lord Yan Zhu was slightly stunned, but quickly regained his composure, his expression solemn: "Who taught you the Sacred Glyphs?"

Mo Hua replied seriously: "The Divine Lord bestowed them upon me."

Lord Yan Zhu frowned. "Your—Divine Lord—gave you so many divine gifts?"

Mo Hua nodded.

If I give them to myself, how could there not be many?

Lord Yan Zhu glanced around and said to Mo Hua: "This place is secluded, no one else is here. Tell me the truth—are you truly a Lord Wuzhu?"

Mo Hua nodded. "Naturally."

Lord Yan Zhu's gaze sharpened. "You've never been to Wang Ting, never received any transmission—how can you be so certain you are a Lord Wuzhu?"

Mo Hua said: "Didn't I already tell you? The Divine Lord appeared to me in a dream and told me I am a Lord Wuzhu."

Mo Hua's expression was too calm, his tone too certain.

Lord Yan Zhu was momentarily stunned, and couldn't help thinking:

Could this boy not have been lying before?

Is everything he said true?

Lord Yan Zhu looked again at Mo Hua's eyes and saw an inexplicable clarity within them.

Based on his centuries of experience as a Lord Wuzhu, these were certainly not the eyes of a liar.

Add to that, at the Alliance Meeting, this boy, though utterly clueless, had blocked my late Jin Dan spiritual attack.

Lord Yan Zhu, rich in divine knowledge, quickly reached a conclusion:

"A Divine Favored One!"

And a wild one at that.

Even deeply favored.

Presumably, by sheer chance, this boy stumbled upon great fortune and caught the attention of some wandering deity of heaven and earth, becoming that deity's "favored one," granted immense divine blessings.

This deity is not a mainstream god, with few followers, so its blessings upon a single individual would be extraordinarily profound.

It could even be said that "all requests are granted."

The annals of the Great Wilderness Wang Ting indeed contain records of such wild "Divine Favored Ones."

And the deity not only grants them "omens" and "transmissions," but also shields them from calamities and evil influences, protecting their spiritual core.

Thus, it is perfectly normal that my late Jin Dan fire spiritual force could not harm his mind sea.

After all, a Lord Wuzhu is still mortal, unable to oppose a deity.

Lord Yan Zhu looked again at Mo Hua, and felt envy rise within him:

A wild Divine Favored One—this boy's fortune is astonishingly outrageous.

Yet he concealed his emotions, turning envy into joy within: such a fortunate boy had come into his path—

Lord Yan Zhu's face grew serious. "So—do you intend to continue like this?"

Mo Hua looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Lord Yan Zhu said: "Your status is illegitimate. Even if you truly received divine favor, you remain unrecognized by Wang Ting, without official 'Lord Wuzhu' status, without a 'Zhu Name.' No matter how great your achievements, you will never be acknowledged. Are you content with that?"

Mo Hua feigned indifference. "What's the big deal—why would I be discontent—"

Lord Yan Zhu watched him silently.

Mo Hua's inner turmoil could not escape him.

Indeed, after a moment, Mo Hua could not help asking: "What is 'Lord Wuzhu status'? And what is a 'Zhu Name'?"

Lord Yan Zhu smiled faintly, his expression haughty.

"The Wuzhu is an exalted title granted by Wang Ting, one who serves the gods, distinct from mortals, incomparably noble."

"And the Divine Lord is the sole god of the ancient Dahuang."

"Yet the Dahuang Divine Lord has long fallen silent. When a whale dies, ten thousand gods are born; now, the land of Dahuang is divided among many gods."

"Each realm, each tribe, has its own worshipped deity."

"But these deities are all gods."

"True great gods either protect Wang Ting or are venerated in ancient lineages like the Wujiu Tribe. Only backward, ignorant tribes, unaware of the truth, still worship some 'Divine Lord.'"

"This is the true state of the Dahuang divine path today."

"And remember this—" Lord Yan Zhu looked at Mo Hua, warning, "the god you serve is most likely only a minor god, not a great god, and certainly not a Divine Lord."

"According to Wang Ting's Wuzhu rules, no god today may call himself 'Divine Lord.' Otherwise, he is either spreading heresy or an heretical demon god, and will suffer divine punishment."

Lord Yan Zhu had originally intended to inflict divine punishment upon Mo Hua.

But since he could not punish him, he changed his attitude.

Mo Hua nodded.

Lord Yan Zhu's words differed somewhat from the information Mo Hua had previously received about the barbarian gods.

Yet Lord Yan Zhu was a Wuzhu, from Wang Ting—his words were likely closest to the "truth."

Of course, only "closest"—

The Wuzhu claim to serve the gods, but in the end, they are merely human.

They cannot even see the gods—how could they truly know any "truth"? —

"Then what is this 'Zhu name' you mentioned?" Mo Hua asked again.

Lord Yan Zhu spoke with solemn gravity:

"Wuzhu who serve the gods have severed their mortal origins and possess no names. Only when one's devotion is profound and one's merits outstanding can one gradually ascend. If one rises to become a Shang Wu, one may receive one's own Zhu name."

"This Zhu name is bestowed by the god, containing the god's born Dao."

The Dao born of the god—

Mo Hua's heart suddenly leapt; something occurred to him. He looked at Lord Yan Zhu:

"Your title is Yan Zhu—so the god you serve was born of the Fire Dao?"

Lord Yan Zhu was displeased by Mo Hua's disrespectful tone, but said nothing, only nodded: "Correct."

Mo Hua frowned, lost in thought.

Gods are born of Dao.

That was what Huang Shanjun had told him.

Now, according to these Wuzhu, the Dahuang Divine Lord has fallen silent, and the various gods of Dahuang now embody different "Daos." Are these Daos—could they be—"Principles"?

Dao, gods, Principles, divine intent—ordinary cultivators exclude "divine intent" from their cultivation.

But now Mo Hua vaguely sensed that this matter was far more complicated than it appeared: divine intent is invisible, intangible, untrainable.

Thus, the vast majority of cultivators "see it but ignore it," "see it but do not know it."

Yet divine intent holds infinite mysteries—its depths are terrifying.

The traditional cultivation lineage of the Nine Provinces has outright "castrated" the doctrine of divine intent.

Ordinary cultivators, from childhood onward, train within this rigid transmission, constantly indoctrinated with this ossified cultivation education; their "view of cultivation" gradually hardens, and they naturally accept the concept of "removing divine intent," forever unable to glimpse its mysteries—

But Dahuang's lineage stands apart from Dao Ting.

Though it once submitted for a time, it was never fully "tamed" by Dao Ting's cultivation system.

The so-called "barbaric" wastelands still retain a degree of "faith" within.

Though they themselves are unaware, they are indeed attempting to contact and understand the power of divine intent.

From the scattered traces Mo Hua has encountered in Dahuang so far, divine intent's power may be intimately tied to gods, to Dao, to Principles.

"Divine intent" has never been separate from the complete "cultivation" system.

Indeed, divine intent may be the part of the cultivation system most closely linked to "Principles" and "Dao."

Yet the orthodox lineage of the Nine Provinces has forcibly excised "divine intent"—

Mo Hua's pupils trembled slightly; his thoughts churned.

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