Chapter 317: Provocation

The Qian family applied pressure, forcing Yan Jixi to leave, and Tongxian Gate ceased teaching formation arts.

This way, the Qian family could monopolize formation arts, and Great Heishan could use them to conceal their evil deeds.

The cultivators of Xiancheng, lacking knowledge of formation arts, would forever remain unaware of what the evil cultivators had done with them…

Mo Hua grew colder with each thought, his heart filled with hesitation.

Could the Qian family's conspiracy truly run so deep?

As Seeing Mo Shan walked, he noticed Mo Hua suddenly stop, as if struck by a realization, his expression growing solemn, even showing signs of dread, and he asked anxiously:

"Hua'er, what's wrong?"

Mo Hua snapped back to himself, thought for a moment, and said seriously: "Father, we must go see Elder Yu."

Seeing Mo Shan did not know what Mo Hua had realized, but guessed he had made some discovery, and nodded:

"Alright."

Several late-coming Qian family disciples, seeing this, halted abruptly, their hearts filled with fear and disbelief.

Dong Shuyu asked: "What does he want to know?"

Without a single word of nonsense, Seeing Mo Shan directly ordered his senior disciple:

That day, Zhang Lan came again to see Mo Hua and opened by saying:

Great Heishan patted my shoulder and encouraged:

Mo Hua asked: "Could it be disguise or impersonation?"

Great Heishan shook his head, "He wore Bai Bu over his face, so his features were hidden, but his aura was extremely familiar—almost like a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Xiancheng."

Mo Hua felt discouraged; he had thought he had uncovered a link between the Qian family and Elder Yu…

"If he truly wants to trouble me, all he needs to do is send someone to beat me up—so long as no one dies, the Qian family won't have to answer for it."

And Seeing Mo Shan indeed did not disappoint: one evening, at the foot of a mountain, on a forked path, Seeing Mo Shan once again blocked Mo Hua with several senior disciples.

"At least these few bosses aren't from the Qian family."

A scorching, twisted spiritual force shattered my chest armor, tore open my chest, and vaporized the blood in my Golden Core.

Mo Hua rubbed his chin, pondering: "He shouldn't be so foolish as to come trouble you again, right?"

Then my mother's… is that a Fireball Technique?

"Could there be exceptions?" Mo Hua asked.

Mo Hua frowned.

In the past few days, aside from cultivation and drawing formation arrays, Mo Hua had been pondering this question, but made no progress.

He patted Mo Hua's head again and said gently:

Mo Hua scratched his head, uncertain again: "Could I have guessed wrong?"

"Father, do you think it's the Qian family?"

His face turned paler, his cheekbones more prominent, his demeanor bright yet tinged with madness.

I am a body cultivator with an Earth elemental affinity—my skin is thick and tough; I'm not afraid of such crude Fireball Techniques—at most, I'll suffer some injuries.

A deep red Fireball Technique exploded with an eerie vibration.

Zhang Lan glanced at Mo Hua, downed a small bowl of wine in gulps, then spoke: "It's not Seeing Mo Shan."

Mo Hua stood in place, expressionless, not dodging or avoiding, and raised his hand to cast a Fireball Technique.

"The problem lies right here."

Elder Yu froze, his smile fading slowly as he asked:

"What nonsense are you spouting? I haven't finished drinking!"

"It's not quite the Qian family… but it is the Qian family…"

Great Heishan's gaze sharpened; he thought carefully, then still shook his head:

Zhang Lan spoke vaguely.

It seemed… it really was hard to say.

Zhang Lan gave Mo Hua a half-smile. "What do you think?"

Mo Hua nodded. "I know it's a stretch, which is why I came to ask you."

As soon as Dong Shu finished speaking, several Qian family disciples moved at once; the Qian disciple at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer charged ahead, lunging straight at Mo Hua.

"Someone might be coming to trouble you."

Could it be that the Qian family found out I was investigating their affairs, and now they're targeting me?

"That day you attacked Elder Yu, you fought the evil cultivators—were there any Qian family cultivators among them?" Mo Hua said.

Dong Shuyu shook her head: "No matter how well they disguise themselves, their spiritual aura doesn't change. I know these Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Qian family intimately—if they open their mouths, I know exactly what they're going to say—I couldn't possibly mistake them."

Mo Hua frowned. "The Qian family?"

Mo Hua's mood improved slightly; he nodded silently.

Unbearable agony surged through me.

Qian Xing added: "I found no Qian family members among the other Qi Condensation evil cultivators."

The Fireball Technique was dark in color, small in size, but moved with astonishing slowness.

"And if Elder Yu truly founded this group, then this boss—even if not Qian Hong—must be a Qian family elder."

Though much had changed, the one thing unchanged was the venom in his eyes, and his hatred toward Mo Hua.

In the past few days, Mo Hua had been waiting for Dong Shu to come to the door.

One Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, seven Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, plus me—against a Qi Condensation First Layer Mo Hua—it was more than enough.

Dong Shuyu sighed: "If the Qian family truly has no connection with Elder Yu, then among the evil cultivators, there should be no Qian family members—even among these bosses, one must be a Qian family Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

Mo Hua pondered briefly, then voiced his suspicions.

Mo Hua sighed, "Uncle Zhang, he's changed—back when he guided you to harm Mo Shan..."

Mo Hua blinked. "Why?"

And Qian Duoye is watching nearby—that's a bad opportunity; I need to show my bravery and leave a bad impression on Qian Duoye.

"It's just a moment of madness, but it will last a lifetime," Zhang Lan said. "And after all, he's the legitimate son. The Qian family has been trying to cure me for years, and finally, they've succeeded in breaking me."

Elder Yu frowned, his bony fingers tapping the table, thinking long and hard before speaking slowly:

Mo Hua thought for a moment, his eyes brightening slightly, and shouted, "What if you kill me..."

"But it seems there really isn't a single clue..."

Dong Shuyu sighed, "You've dealt with the Qian family for so long—you know our ways well. If we were colluding with Dong Shuyu, we'd surely find ways to insert our people, infiltrate quickly, and slowly devour Elder Yu."

"Some things you can't understand right away—it doesn't matter. As long as you pay attention, you'll eventually figure them out."

This time, I'll wipe away my past humiliation and make Mo Hua, that bastard, kneel before me and beg for mercy.

Zhang Lan quickly covered Mo Hua's mouth. "I never guided him!"

"Mm." Mo Hua nodded.

Dong Shu nodded. "Very similar."

That can only be considered a clue—not solid proof.

It's been a long time; Mo Shan has grown much thinner.

The Qian family forced Yan Jiaoxi to leave, ending the transmission of array techniques by Tongxian Gate, allowing Great Heishan to hide within Shenshan using arrays and commit countless evils without being discovered.

Zhang Lan coughed, his expression solemn: "I'm the Gu Diansi of Dao Ting Si. Are you sure it's appropriate to tell me this?"

A single fireball spell knocked someone down?

"He's been more cautious lately."

"Very likely, but it's a bit far-fetched..."

He wasn't discouraged; he remembered his father's words: as long as you pay attention, you'll eventually find clues.

"What happened?"

It's just a fireball spell.

He guessed correctly—if Mo Shan would come to him.

"What if it fails?"

"You're talking about 'what if.'"

Mo Hua nodded. "Fine!"

"Has Mo Shan gone mad?"

The Qian family disciple at Qi Refinement Level Four, caught off guard, rolled his eyes and collapsed with a thud.

The previously noisy foot of the mountain fell into dead silence.

The Qian family's monopoly on array techniques couldn't possibly be merely for profit—it must truly be to conceal Elder Yu.

Mo Hua followed Mo Shan to the Yu family.

"Let's go first—break him first!"

Qian Xing mused, "Paper can't wrap fire forever; there's no wall in the world that doesn't let wind through. The Qian family must truly be connected to Elder Yu—they'll eventually reveal traces."

That kind of spoiled brat only has temper, no brains.

Zhang Lan had no way to handle Mo Hua and sighed:

He charged fast and fell fast.

Mo Shan is used to bullying others and has a vengeful nature—he won't let himself off so easily.

On the way home, Mo Hua asked Qian Xing:

"Your reasoning is good, but we still need more evidence. I'll have people watch the Qian family closely to see if they show any signs."

"What about the head of the family? Do you know his identity?"

Mo Hua was surprised—he hadn't heard any news from Mo Shan in a long time.

Mo Hua looked dejected.

Elder Yu had just returned and was leisurely drinking tea in the hall. When he heard Mo Hua had come, he rose with a smile, about to speak—when he saw Mo Hua's solemn expression and Mo Shan's serious face beside him.

Moreover, he specifically chose a secluded place, with no beast-hunters and no other cultivators around.

"Mo Shan?"

The Qi Refinement Level Four Qian disciple couldn't dodge in time—but at this point, he didn't bother to dodge.

Mo Hua eyed him suspiciously. "Uncle Zhang, are you drunk? Why are you speaking so incoherently?"

So he directly took the fireball spell on his chest.

"Fine, fine—say I didn't guide him."

This time, for safety, I brought seven big brothers.